Concise Guide to What is Considered Indoors & Outdoors by MOH
If you’re not counting down the hours and minutes to 29 March after PM Lee’s
address today, are you even living in Singapore? Jokes aside, I’m sure everyone’s aware of the masks-off-when-you’re-outdoors rule that will be kicking in from next Tuesday (29 March) onwards.
But wait ah … What counts as outdoors? If you’re as confused as I was regarding what venues count as outdoor venues, don’t worry, because I’ve got you covered:
- Indoor Venues - Although it might be easy to assume that by “indoor” the government means “places with air-conditioning”, that’s not the case. According to the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) guidelines, “indoor venues” include the obvious areas such as within office buildings, shopping malls, libraries and lifts.
- Outdoor Venues - I don’t think I’ve been more excited to read a list before. Based on the same guidelines, outdoor venues include the void decks of HDB blocks, the walkways along HDB walkways and fivefoot ways. Open-air sheltered walkways and bridges also count as outdoor areas.
“Stop releasing half-baked guidelines” — Netizens remain confused about “indoor” “outdoor” and “only when eating” mask rules
Even a day before the rules are set to be implemented, netizens are still voicing their concern over what some see as an unclear and not-entirely-effective set of rules
In response to yet another news article clarifying the new set of safety measures regarding the use of facemasks against the spread of Covid-19, netizens are still expressing their confusion over exceptions such as being indoors, outdoors, or even the cases where eating is a special case. Others have questioned the effectiveness of the rules.
On Thursday (March 24) PM Lee announced that the nation would put a new set of safety measures in place starting on Tuesday (March 19.) Though mask donning will be optional outdoors, they will still be mandatory indoors. Aside from this, the maximum capacity of group gatherings and events has been increased. However, the rules do not seem to be as black and white as they sound.
In
recent news, an entire news forum thread was dedicated to questions, clarifications, and even reactions concerning the new set of rules. While some more introverted Singaporeans merely expressed their lack of excitement to participate in gatherings, others raised questions such as what exactly is considered an “indoor” or an “outdoor” venue. Even a day before the rules are set to be implemented, netizens are still voicing their concern over what some see as an unclear and not-entirely-effective set of rules. In response to a published guide for Singaporeans, netizens shared their two cents.
TikTok Video Shows Hassle Of Indoor & Outdoor Mask Rules
Singaporeans everywhere rejoiced the second
mask-wearing policies were relaxed from 29 Mar onwards. In celebration of no longer needing our masks outdoors, a parody on TikTok provides us with a hilarious outlook on how to abide by this new regulation.
Within the video, the OP accurately captures the struggle of constantly needing to put a mask off and on. Netizens can relate to the parody, with some expressing their gratitude for the policy due to the freedom given to Singaporeans.
On 24 Mar, PM Lee announced in his national address that Singaporeans would be able to take their masks off while outdoors. The policy will come into effect from today (29 Mar). The differentiation between which situations require a mask and which do not has invited some confusion. A TikTok user decided to
make a parody to explain the policy.
Better safe than sorry: People in S'pore share why they still wear masks outdoors
Most people prefer to wear their masks while outdoors. Mothership decided to hit the streets again on Mar. 29 morning and afternoon to see if things remained the same.
We went down to Tampines, Pasir Ris, and Simei in the morning, as well as Rochor, Bugis, Telok Ayer, and Raffles Place in the afternoon. Nearly everyone outdoors in these areas were still wearing their masks.
Ground chatter: Many still prefer to mask up outdoors even on day one of new rules
In response to a post showing photos of maskless people outdoors, many left comments explaining why they still choose to wear them even in open-air venues
At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone dreamed of the day it would be deemed safe enough to take them off. However, two years later, when countries like Singapore are beginning to ease the safety measures as they gain ground in the battle against Covid-19, people are actually saying they prefer to wear their masks even when outdoors.
On Tuesday (March 29), Singapore implemented a modified set of safety measures against Covid-19. One of the modifications to the rules is that it is now optional to wear a mask outdoors. Though at the beginning of the pandemic, mask-wearing was something everyone had to get used to, it seems to have become a part of everyday life for many–so much so that on the first day that people were no longer obligated to don a facemask outdoors, many expressed their strong preference for keeping their masks on.
In response to a post showing photos of maskless people outdoors, many left comments explaining why they still choose to wear them even in open-air venues. For some, it is a matter of consideration for others, such as members of their family or even the more vulnerable in society such as the elderly and children. For others, it is the sense of security they feel knowing that the risk of transmission is brought even lower with a facemask. A few even reported that they saw a lot of people wearing masks outdoors.
Jamus Lim says S’pore should go maskless outdoors because S’poreans sian of wearing mask liao
Our Jamus Lim oppa 不愧 (no doubt) is drink ang moh water one. Even his thinking also so ang moh style leh. In a Facebook post on 21 September, Workers’ Party Jamus Lim boldly calls for mask-wearing to be eased outdoors.
To make his point, he listed 3 reasons:
- Transmission rates are “far lower” outdoors than indoors - Jamus Lim said that after two years of living with the virus, our understanding of the virus has shown that transmission rates are far lower outdoors, as opposed to indoors. While he acknowledges that the delta variant is very powerful and may get passed around outdoors, he also added that wearing masks alone won’t be able to stop the spread of the delta variant anyway.
- Keeping the mask on constantly is stifling - He then reasoned that keeping mask on constantly is stifling in our hot and humid climate, especially for people who work outdoors (like cleaners and gardeners), who don’t have the “exercising” excuse to unmask.
- People sian of wearing mask liao - Jamus oppa also said that the reason why people are ripping their masks off once indoors is also because everyone is sian of wearing masks liao. He then explained his point using workers who unmask themselves in smaller meeting rooms and offices as example. “There are clear signs of mask fatigue. But this is precisely the wrong way round. If we had to choose between indoor and outdoor masking, the former is clearly preferred, because risks of infection indoors are much higher,” he said.
One of the activities I’ll miss most as from our time in the U.S. is our walks at a nearby park. In addition to the rolling hills, cool morning air, and family time, is the freedom to keep our masks off while outdoors. Masks have been a controversial public policy in Singapore. We started with a position that masks were unnecessary, then belatedly went on a strict mask mandate. Violators have faced persecution and deportation (along with public consternation). Excess caution was probably warranted in the earlier part of the COVID-19 pandemic, given our state of knowledge at the time. But two years on, our understanding of the disease has evolved significantly.
One development has been the far lower transmission rates of COVID-19 outdoors, as opposed to indoors. Indeed, a cross-country systematic review has only one recorded time (in Singapore, no less) where the indoor setting has been linked to cluster formation (http://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15889.2). There is now some emerging evidence that outdoor transmission is also possible with the delta variant. But then again, it seems like masks alone are insufficient to fully inhibit delta’s spread, as shown by our now-infamous market vegetable study.
In my view, this makes a strong behavioral case for relaxing the mask mandate outdoors. In an ideal world, folks would keep masks on all the time, of course, except perhaps when in the presence of those living in the same household. But in reality, keeping the mask on constantly is stifling, and all the more so in our hot and humid climate. This is especially so for those who work outdoors (like cleaners and gardeners), who don’t have the “exercising” excuse to unmask. Not only that, it often leads to people ripping their masks off once indoors, to obtain some relief. I’m sure we all know of coworkers who unmask, especially in smaller meeting rooms and offices. There are clear signs of mask fatigue. But this is precisely the wrong way round. If we had to choose between indoor and outdoor masking, the former is clearly preferred, because risks of infection indoors are much higher. We aren’t machines, and public health policy should ultimately be sustainable.
‘Badge Lady’ Gets 16 Weeks’ Jail For Not Wearing Mask At MBS & Public Places
As part of Covid-19 measures, wearing a mask when outside is compulsory at all times except when eating and drinking.
One lady who was seen not wearing a mask at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) was sentenced to jail on Monday (6 Sep).
Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reports that Phoon Chiu Yoke, 54, was given 16 weeks of jail for 9 charges of Covid-19 breaches after she pleaded guilty.
