GEORGE TOWN: Despite face masks no longer being mandatory outdoors, holiday makers and locals still feel comfortable wearing one.
Checks by the New Straits Times at Lebuh Armenian here this afternoon, a popular tourist spot, showed that the majority of the crowd had their face masks on unless taking a sip or having a puff.
S. Rajendran, 59, from Subang, who is here on a holiday with his family, said he felt safer having his mask on.
"Now is still not the right time to remove the face masks. We are not totally safe from Covid-19 yet.
"We may be outdoors, but we don't know what will happen and who we will come across.
"So, it is better and safer to put the face mask on at all times. I am staying with my grandchildren and I want nothing to happen to the child," he told the NST when met.
Echoing his sentiment is student Rouxing Tan, 18, a student of Penang Chinese Girls Private High School, who is on an outing with several friends.
Tan said she had gotten used to wearing a face mask for the past two years.
"I think I will continue to wear the face mask, even while I am outdoor, for now.
"The risk is still very much out there and I want to stay as safe as possible," she said, adding that she was struck down by Covid-19 prior to this.
According to Tan, she will look at the situation first before she ever removes the face mask.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced that face masks were no longer mandatory outdoors from May 1, as were MySejahtera check-ins.
He had also announced that all social and economic activities would be allowed starting May 15.
Despite the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP) relaxations, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow encouraged the people to continue wearing their face masks while they were outdoors and in crowded places.
He said this was especially so for those in the high-risk groups such as senior citizens and children.