Health DG Has Something To Say Regarding Government’s Suggestion To Use Face Shields & Fabric Masks Instead
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With questions swirling around using face shields and fabric face coverings in lieu of face masks, Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah clarifies that three-layer face masks are still the best in reducing Covid-19 transmission.
The public can use non-medical fabric masks, but it must have at least three layers.
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Health Director-General.
At the Health Ministry’s Covid-19 briefing on 10 August, Dr Noor Hisham explained that there is clinical evidence that wearing face masks with a minimum of three layers has an effective rate of 60-65% in breaking the viral chain of transmission.
He states that currently, medical face masks are being used by frontliners, whereby those on duty in Covid-19 wards and intensive care units (ICU) don N95 masks while other frontliners wear three-ply surgical masks.
When it comes to face shields, he states that there is no clinical evidence yet on its effectiveness, but agrees that wearing a face shield still provides some form of protection.
So, wearing a face shield is still better than wearing nothing at all to cover your face.
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Health Director-General.
The Health Director-General’s explanation comes after Senior Minister (Defence) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob informed earlier that day that the government is considering face shields and cloth face coverings like purdah as an alternative to face masks.
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