Thailand – Following two years of necessary cover wearing in indoor and outside spaces, Thailand expects to drop its veil order by mid-June, as per the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Kiattipoom Wongrachit. At a meeting held today at Diamond Plaza lodging in Surat Thani, southern Thailand, Kiattipoom said the service is thinking about dropping the …

METRO MANILA: According to the recent special survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS) held from Sept. 17 to Sept. 20, large majorities of Filipinos practice preventive measures against COVID-19 even after the quarantine period ended. SWS said that 79% of Filipinos wear face mask when they go out, an increase from the 76% in July and 76% in May. Malacañang …

KUALA LUMPUR – The public can still appeal to lessen the RM 1,000 fine issued by the government for those who caugt not wearing the face masks in public. According to Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, since  the public can appeal, there’s no need to amend the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) and …

PETALING JAYA – Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi announced today that sellers may be penalised up to RM500,000 if caught selling surgical face masks above RM1 when the price ceiling will be implemented on Saturday. The fine was inline with the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 that also includes a compound up to RM250,000 …

Fiber from a banana tree relative could substitute plastic in millions of face masks, and the world’s hospital gowns to combat the coronavirus. Abaca-a fiber from the Philippines used in teabags and banknotes-is as durable as polyester but will decompose within two months, said Kennedy Costales, head of the Philippine fiber department. While nations prioritized hygiene over the atmosphere for …

PETALING JAYA – Wearing face masks in public areas and public transport will be made mandatory starting August 1, Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said in a statement. The Senior Minister said that non compliance with the new law will result to being fined or prosecuted in court. The government decided to make the wearing of face …

KUALA LUMPUR – For the health and safety of all future passengers, Malaysia Airlines are now requiring a mandatory use of face masks at touch-points such as check-in, boarding, in the aircraft cabin, disembarkation and collection of baggage on arrival on all domestic, international and charter flights starting April 23, 2020. This requirement applies to all passengers to lessen the …

Philippines needed all those living in areas under enhanced community quarantine to wear face masks or other protective equipment when leaving their homes to slow Covid-19 spread. However, with such a high demand and the nation’s health professionals requiring the available surgical and N95 masks, people turn to DIY cloth face masks for grocery shop trips and other important errands. …

The Department of Internal Trade (DIT) authorised the export of 330 tonnes of face masks in January and February when the items were in short supply and declared controlled products, according to the Customs Department. The department had no power to stop the shipments because the exporters held a licence under the Commerce Ministry’s regulations, said department spokesman Chaiyut Khamkhun. …

After discovering two more cases of coronavirus disease in the country in 2019 (COVID-19), the public will refrain from panic-buying face masks, Health Secretary Francsico Duque III said Friday. His recall came after he revealed that one of the two recent confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country was an elderly man with no travel history abroad. On the other …