THE Penang government has urged the state Health Department to monitor the Covid-19 cases in the state, following the recent announcement by the Health Ministry.
The ministry had announced that the use of face masks is no longer mandatory indoors; and that the use of face masks would only be compulsory when using public transportation on buses, trains, planes, taxis, e-hailing vehicles as well as at hospitals and medical institutions.
“The state government hopes that all relevant authorities, especially the state Health Department, will continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation following the latest development.
“How will the relaxation impact the number of Covid-19 cases in the state?” Chow replied when asked by a journalist in Minden Heights today.
He said the people would have to get used to the new development.
“It has always been stressed that the decision made by the Health Ministry was according to scientific data.
“So we hope that this relaxation of SOP is a step towards endemicity, and not cause us to be in a situation that we were in before.
“Since the use of face masks indoors is optional, we encourage those who have flu-like symptoms, are not feeling well, or have not gotten used to the relaxation of SOP to continue to wear the face masks.
“It is up to the individuals,” he said.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Alissala Thian