BY ABIDGAIL MERTA GANGGANG
KUCHING: Will face masks be made mandatory in schools again to avoid a resurgence of the XBB.1.16 variant Arcturus?
Recently, Minister of Health Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the ministry would convene an urgent meeting with the Education Ministry on the issue before schools reopen on May 2.
In light of the issue and the new COVID-19 variant, New Sarawak Tribune managed to speak to some of the academicians on their thoughts.
FADZILLAH AISHAH ISMAIL, 42
Lecturer
I have no objection if a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is issued for students to wear face masks. I will support anything that involves my children’s health. For me there is no compromise in matters involving life. Even before this, we have been used to wearing face masks for almost three years when leaving the house, so I have no problem if the government wants to re-enforce their use for the safety of children.
FLETCHELLE ARLEEN APOI, 25
Teacher
Certainly, if someone is showing symptoms, it would be considerate of him/her to wear a face mask to keep others around them safe. However, many people are already protected by the vaccines.If MoH feels that face masks should be made mandatory in schools, it’s important to make schools understand this through campaigns. Face masks should not be mandatory in schools only because students and teachers alike are still be exposed to communities outside the schools.
LUCY NASCIA BASIN, 48
Teacher
Face masks should be made mandatory in schools. A large number of students from hundreds of families gather in close proximity for six hours each day, exposing each other to any possibility of contracting viral/bacterial infection. However, they should not wear masks when doing physical activities so that their breathing will not be compromised. Instead, we should encourage all other critical public health measures like social distancing, limiting the number of children playing together, providing access to hand hygiene facilities and encouraging their use.
