KUALA LUMPUR: People in high-risk groups should continue to mask up to keep safe, although the government has made it optional for people to wear it in indoor settings.
Public health expert Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said there were still risks of contracting Covid-19 as the country was still recording several thousand cases daily.
"Aside from the high-risk groups, those who have symptoms should keep their masks on to avoid potential virus spread as well as individuals who have not completed their Covid-19 vaccination.
"If it is crowded indoors, people should put on their face masks to minimise risk and decide what is best for them in the settings they are in.
"As for other individuals, they should consider the environment around them and decide what is best for them."
At the same time, Dr Zainal said the dispensing of primary series and booster doses of the Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme should be ramped up to boost immunity of the people.
He said this following the announcement by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today on the revised mask mandate which made it optional to wear face masks indoors starting today.
Khairy said premises owners could also decide if their patrons were required to put on a face mask or make it optional for them.
However, he stressed that wearing face mask was still mandatory in all healthcare facilities, such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, and said it was recommended that those in high-risk groups continue to don the masks.
He also strongly encouraged people to continue wearing face masks since it has been proven to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Universiti Sains Malaysia's Dr Kumitaa Theva Das said the removal of the mask mandate in the country was possible after considering several health aspects, including the stabilising number of daily Covid-19 infections and declining rate of hospitalisation.
She said the government's move to revise the mask-wearing mandate followed the global trend on similar health advisory to curb the spread of Covid-19.
"This means we have less to worry about externally. Our neighbouring country, Singapore, also loosened their mask mandate recently and has not seen a sudden spike. And this is most likely what we will see as well.
"That having been said, however, we can still take a cautious approach. If you are in a crowded place like a mall, in healthcare facilities, in the elevator or using public transport, it will be safer to mask up.
"With the loosening of each mandate, it boils down to trusting one another to make good decisions to protect ourselves and our community," she told the New Straits Times.
Dr Kumitaa, a geneticist with USM's Infectomics Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, said staying up-to-date with vaccines and boosters reduced the risk of infection and its severity drastically.
She said it also reduced the risk of long Covid, which could leave long-lasting effects on the brain, heart and lungs.
"We want to ensure that our immune system is prepped and ready to fight the virus. Our immunity does wane over time, so what this means is if it has been a few months since we received a vaccine, we are less protected," she said.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) also encouraged employees to wear face masks at workplaces to reduce the spread of common cold and flu.
MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said people should still be cautious to avert any outbreaks at workplaces, especially with the new Covid-19 variants still spreading.
"Employees should consider keeping their masks on to keep themselves and their colleagues safe. It will still be business as usual for companies with or without face mask," he said.
Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia president Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh said private hospital staff will also continue to wear the face masks as the practice would curb the spread of upper respiratory communicable diseases.
Meanwhile, Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye also advised people to continue wearing face masks in crowded areas.
"I personally believe that discretion is the better part of valour. So, by making it optional for people to wear face masks, the government has shown that it trusts the people to take the necessary precautions.
"Senior citizens and those in high-risk groups should continue wearing their face mask. Although we have fewer Covid-19 infections now, we are still not out of the woods yet," he said.