PUTRAJAYA: The mandatory use of face masks from Aug 1 will be for crowded public places where social distancing cannot be practised, says Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

He said this rule, already implemented for public transport, would now be enforced for those frequenting crowded public areas.

However, Dr Noor Hisham did not specify the kind of crowded public place where the use of face masks among patrons were mandatory.

“If you are walking alone, there is no need to wear a face mask.

“If you are in public and the place is crowded and social distancing cannot be created, the use of face masks is mandatory,” he said at a media engagement session on Wednesday (July 29).

The government has announced the mandatory use of face masks in crowded public areas effective Aug 1.

Dr Noor Hisham said the plan was to eventually get everyone to adorn face masks once they stepped out of the house.

“However, this can only be implemented if the poor and needy have sufficient supply of masks.

“So now we are looking into how we can supply them with fabric masks now that the World Health Organisation has said that it is safe to use the fabric type of face masks,” he said.