Free Face Masks For All Malaysians, Says Government, But With One Condition
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Face masks (and sanitisers) have become one of the rarest commodities this year as Covid-19 continues to rage across the globe.
Pharmacies seem to never have any supply and many have resorted to wearing DIY masks made with assorted pieces of cloth. But fret not, there is some good news.
The government is giving out free face masks to Malaysians!
Malay Mail reported the news following Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s live press conference where he announced that the government is currently in the process of distributing free face masks to Malaysians nationwide.
The government will distribute for free four face masks to each household nationwide.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Senior Minister.
(Credit: Bernama via Malay Mail)
This announcement follows an earlier statement by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin that the government will purchase and distribute face masks to all Malaysians for free, in a bid to mitigate the spread of the virus.
However, there is one caveat. The masks will be distributed to those who display flu-like symptoms, following the Health Ministry’s (MOH) recommendations.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and MOH recommends that only those with symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and runny nose should wear a face mask. This is because surgical masks can catch respiratory droplets and prevent them from infecting others. Surgical masks are not effective in preventing an infection.
The distribution
According to Ismail Sabri, the government currently has 24.2 million face masks marked for distribution.
The Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) will send the face masks to the National Security Council (MKN) in each state. This is followed by the National Disaster Management Agency’s committees to districts.
Frontline workers will then distribute the masks to those in need.
The masks will also be flown to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan on Friday (10th March) via special charter by the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM).
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