THE Health Ministry is looking into providing face masks for low income groups, ahead of the ruling to make wearing masks in public mandatory, director-general of Health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.

“We are looking into providing (for free) for the needy, such as the B40 group and others,” he said today.

Noor Hisham added that wearing a face mask was important while out and about in crowded places, such as public transport where social distancing may not be possible.

New evidence suggests that the protective item has the potential to reduce the chain of infection by up to 60%, he said.

On that note, the government has decided to make wearing face masks in public compulsory from August 1.

Noor Hisham also advised members of the public to don the three-ply variant as the single layer facemask was not effective. – July 27, 2020.