Women wearing protective masks pass an advertisement promoting the use of face masks in Jakarta.
Mohammad Suhaili Fadhil Thohir, the head of Central Lombok regency, next to the holiday island of Bali, said he made the order after government employees complained about wearing face masks during office calisthenics held outside every Friday — Islam’s holy day. “To make sure civil servants cover their nose and mouth during the weekly exercise we asked them to wear veils.”
“But I don’t mind as it’s a way to learn about wearing appropriate clothes taught in Islam,” she added.“A mask needs to meet certain standards to prevent” infection, said Andy Yentriyani, a commissioner at the National Commission on Violence Against Women.Central Lombok has got off relatively lightly with the virus, with 117 confirmed cases and four deaths. Nationwide infections have officially topped 70,000.