HEALTH experts are divided on the Health Ministry’s (MOH) recommendations for wearing masks in public to curb the spread of the new Covid-19 strain Arcturus.

While one expert said it was necessary to contain the risk of infection, a former deputy health minister said it was “an unnecessary measure”.

Universiti Malaya Department of Social and Preventive Medicine Prof Moy Foong Ming supported the recommendation, saying as the holidays wind down and more people return to work, the risk of infection rises.

She told The Malaysian Insight public transport and confined spaces would be a particular problem, adding that people in close proximity and poor ventilation are just conducive to the transmission of the virus.

“Passengers with flu symptoms should definitely be encouraged to wear masks in public,” she said.

Moy said people with flu or displaying flu-like symptoms should get themselves tested and avoid public transport, if they are indeed positive.

“They can easily transmit the virus to other passengers if they go out and don’t wear a mask.”

Moy said Arcturus is “20% more contagious” than the Omicron variant.

As more people return to work or school, she believes the number of new cases will increase.

However, former deputy health minister Dr Lee Boon Chye disagreed.

He said wearing masks is “an unnecessary measure” because neither the Omicron nor the Arcturus could be controlled by doing so.

He pointed out the rate of serious illness and death from this new variant is still very low so far, and the World Health Organization had also recently announced that the number of deaths from breathing difficulties had dropped by 95% this year.

“In other words, this new virus is not causing a rise in deaths. What we just need to do is to monitor the trend.

“Wearing a mask is an unnecessary and ineffective measure.”

He said people should view this as a new normal, as new variants of the virus will continue to emerge in the future.

“Hopefully, these new variants will cause high mortality.

Lee said, based on observations, the risk of a new virus becoming deadly is very low.

When asked if people should be encouraged to get the anti-Covid booster shot, he said no vaccine currently available could stop the virus, only mitigate serious illness and mortality.

“Therefore, if it is to be encouraged, it should only be for those in the high-risk groups. Not necessary for students.”

Nonetheless, the Malacca government is taking no chances and last week it decided to heed the MOH’s recommendation by encouraging residents to again wear the face mask in public, including schools.

State health, human resources and unity committee chairman Ngwe Hee Sem said the measure was to curb the spread of the new variant, even though the number of confirmed cases continues to decline.

He said the state will follow the recommendations, guidelines and standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the MOH even though wearing masks in public places is not mandatory.

Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa told the media that the ministry will only continue to encourage people to wear masks in crowded places or when they develop symptoms.

She added the MOH would also not issue a new SOP to deal with any new variants.

As of late April, a total of 12 Arcturus cases have been reported: six in Sarawak, four in Selangor and two in Kuala Lumpur. – May 5, 2023.