As we steadily progress out of the pandemic, here’s when and where you need to wear a mask and when you can go maskless
The news we have all been waiting for is finally here. From August 29, people in Singapore will no longer be required to wear a mask except on public transport and in healthcare facilities, according to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at a Covid-19 multi-ministry task force press conference on August 24.
Masks will still be required on the MRT, LRT and public buses, as well as in indoor public transport facilities like boarding areas at bus interchanges and MRT platforms though. That said, they will not be required at airports, naturally ventilated bus interchanges and in the retail areas of bus interchanges, MRT and LRT stations.
Don’t miss: From Repealing 377A to Reduced Mask Restrictions: 6 Highlights From National Day Rally 2022
Masks will also be optional from August 29 on private transport modes such as taxis, school buses and private bus services, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a press release on August 24.
If you are in a healthcare facility, residential care home or ambulance, you will still be required to wear a mask. These include welfare and sheltered homes for the aged, as well as adult disability homes.
This is because these are “essential areas where essential services are being carried out in enclosed and crowded spaces, and which are frequently used by vulnerable persons,” according to Mr Wong.
You will also be required to continue wearing a mask on flights, ferries and to and from places that require mask-wearing onboard.
Workers in certain sectors such as food handlers will also continue to be required to wear masks in accordance with the Singapore Food Agency’s hygiene requirements.
“Mask-wearing remains an effective way for us to minimise the risk of disease transmission,” the ministry said in its press release.
“Even though we are currently in a state of the pandemic where mask-wearing in many settings would no longer be mandatory, members of the public are encouraged to continue to exercise responsibility and caution, such as wearing masks when in crowded places, or when visiting or interacting with vulnerable persons,” it continued.
The elderly and immuno-compromised have also been encouraged to continue wearing masks in crowded indoor settings by MOH.
The news comes just days after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong first announced the easing of Singapore’s mask-wearing requirements in his National Day Rally speech last Sunday.
At the same time, multiple updates were provided by the Health Ministry on August 24. For one, measures restricting in-person visits to hospitals and residential care homes will be eased from September 1.
From September 1, each patient and resident will be allowed two visitors at each time. Hospital visitors though will continue to have to abide by visiting hours while those at residential homes will have their visits capped at one hour.
Visitors are encouraged to do a self-administered ART test before visiting patients or residents at these facilities to protect their loved ones and to avoid visiting them if they are unwell.
“Hospitals and homes have the discretion to impose additional visitor limits and/or testing requirements for visitors of vulnerable or unvaccinated patients/residents, and suspend visits if they have active Coivd-19 cluster(s) to reduce transmission,” MOH added in its press release.
“We seek the public’s continued cooperation to comply with the revised SMMs in hospitals and residential care homes so that we continue to keep patients and residents safe.”
Mr Wong added that vaccination-differentiated measures such as those requiring those dining in at food and beverage outlets to be fully vaccinated will not change.
Currently, vaccination-differentiated checks are only required for large events and only vaccinated individuals are allowed to dine in at food and beverage outlets.
“But businesses no longer check because this one is based on the individual, and we do random spot checks. For now, we are retaining this approach. So for now, there is no change to this because vaccinations are still the best way to protect ourselves against severe disease and Covid-19,” said Mr Wong.
NOW READ
Section 377A Will Be Repealed: 10 Local Personalities In Singapore React to the News
Minister Lawrence Wong Promoted to Deputy Prime Minister in Singapore: 5 Things to Know About Him