Singapore Lifts Mandatory Mask Rules Starting Next Week, Except In Public Transportation And Health Facilities

Illustration of COVID-19 in Singapore. (Wikimedia Commons/ZKang123)

JAKARTA - Singapore's Health Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Wednesday that citizens of the country will no longer be required to wear masks starting next week.

However, masks must still be worn on modes of transportation such as the MRT, LRT and public buses, as well as on indoor public transportation facilities such as boarding areas at bus interchanges and MRT platforms.

However, masks are not mandatory at airports, naturally ventilated bus interchanges and in retail areas of bus interchanges, MRT and LRT stations.

In addition, masks will become optional on private modes of transportation such as taxis, school buses and private bus services, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a separate press release.

"Taxi drivers can suggest, request, but there is no statutory requirement. It cannot be mandatory, there is no legal basis for taxi drivers to say you have to. It is optional," said Minister Wong, who is also the head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling. COVID-19, launches CNA August 24.

Illustration of COVID-19 in Singapore. (Wikimedia Commons/ZKang123)

Health care facilities, residential care homes and ambulances will meet their mask wearing requirements. This includes welfare homes and shelters for the elderly, as well as adult disabled homes.

As for flights, the requirement to wear a mask will depend on the rules or laws of the destination country as well as the airline.

"Where there is a mandatory requirement to wear a mask, it must be worn on the flight itself," said Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health Kenneth Mak.

However, passengers do not need to do so on flights to or from countries where the use of masks is not mandatory, as long as the airline does not have such a requirement, he added.

"Masks are still required on public transport and in health facilities, as these are areas where essential services are carried out in confined and crowded spaces, and which are frequently used by vulnerable people," said Minister Wong.

As for the workplace, Minister Wong said the company has the discretion to determine its own policies.

"The option remains, because we removed the mandatory requirement to wear masks. But it is optional, employers can choose to decide. For that, in certain settings, industry regulators may also decide that it is a safety requirement," said Minister Wong.

It added that the elderly and immunocompromised people should continue to wear masks in crowded indoor environments, to reduce the risk of catching respiratory infections.