Masks no longer needed indoors from Aug 29 except for public transport, healthcare settings

THE wearing of masks indoors in Singapore will be optional from Aug 29, except when travelling on public transport and in healthcare settings, the multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19 announced on Wednesday (Aug 24).

Masks must still be worn on public buses and trains, as well as in indoor public transport facilities such as the boarding areas within bus interchanges and MRT platforms. But they will be optional on private transport, school buses, private bus services and taxis.

Masks are optional in airports, said Deputy Prime Minister and taskforce co-chair Lawrence Wong, in response to questions. As for flights, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a press release that masks will be needed on flights to or from destinations that require masks onboard, but not on other flights. Operators may also still require mask-wearing as part of company policy.

Masks will also continue to be required in healthcare facilities, residential care homes and ambulances. This includes retail or food and beverage establishments as well as common areas and other facilities within healthcare facilities.

“The further easing of SMMs (safe management measures) and border measures is a significant milestone for us in our journey towards living with Covid,” said Wong, at a press conference where the taskforce also announced the removal of quarantine requirements for non-fully vaccinated arrivals to Singapore.

But while the pandemic situation here is “much better today”, Wong said Singapore must continue to be “mentally prepared for any sudden changes because we don’t know how the virus will mutate and what the next variant will look like”.

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“That’s why we are not standing down the MTF (multi-ministry task force),” said Wong.

Mask-wearing that is required as part of sectoral regulations, such as for food handlers to maintain good hygiene standards, will continue to apply as well.

“Mask-wearing remains an effective way for us to minimise the risk of disease transmission. 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,” said MOH.

The ministry added that the elderly, as well as immuno-compromised individuals, should continue to wear masks in crowded indoor settings to reduce their risk of catching any respiratory infections.

Asked why mask-wearing requirements have been lifted for other crowded settings such as events and concerts, Wong said that the settings identified by the MOH are not just crowded, but also essential services where vulnerable people are likely to be exposed.

“Events… are not essential and I don’t think you have a higher proportion of older people who are vulnerable. But I think public transport — that’s more critical, and there will be elderly in public transport… that’s why we think that’s a more important setting,” he said.

He added that event organisers and venue operators can decide if they wish to require masks on a case-by-case basis.

Separately, safe management measures for in-person visits to hospital and homes will also be eased. From Sep 1, hospitals and homes can receive up to 2 visitors per patient at one time. Visitors at hospitals will have to abide by the hospital’s visiting hours, while visits at homes will be capped at 1 hour per visit.

But there will be no change to vaccination-differentiated SMMs (VDS) for now. Said MOH: “We are reviewing our vaccination policy, to transition to a system where we keep our vaccinations up-to-date, and we will review and update the VDS requirements at the same time.”