Update 29 Aug 2022: Wearing a mask optional from 29 Aug 2022
Masks will still have to be worn on transport modes such as the MRT, LRT and public buses, as well as in indoor public transport facilities like boarding areas at bus interchanges and MRT platforms, said Mr Wong, speaking at a press conference held by the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force.
But they will not be required at airports, naturally ventilated bus interchanges and in the retail areas of bus interchanges, MRT and LRT stations. Masks will be optional on private transport modes such as taxis, school buses and private bus services, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a separate press release on Wednesday.
Masks optional outdoors starting today 29 Mar 2022
Singapore will see its most significant easing of measures in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic from Tuesday (Mar 29). For two years, masks were the norm - indoors, outdoors, even during exercise.
Last week, however, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the easing of a raft of measures in “a major step towards living with COVID-19”, but stopped short of a complete opening up. From tomorrow, people will be able to remove their masks when outdoors. Individuals can gather and dine-in at restaurants in groups of up to 10 people. More people will see their colleagues in the office, and live performances will return.
Places that are sheltered but with open access will generally be regarded as outdoor areas. These include HDB void decks, bus stops, open-air sheltered walkways and bridges, as well as parks, fields and nature trails. The 1m safe distancing rule will still be required in all mask-off environments.
Where can you go without a mask in Singapore: What's considered indoor and outdoor settings
Masks will no longer be mandatory in outdoor settings from March 29, but indoors, masks-wearing will remain mandatory
Masks will no longer be mandatory in outdoor settings from Tuesday (March 29). This is because the risk of outdoor transmission is significantly lower, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who on Thursday announced the easing of Covid-19 measures as the Omicron wave subsides. But indoors, mask wearing will remain mandatory.
Safe distancing requirements will still be maintained in mask-off settings to minimise transmission, which means groups must maintain the 1m distance. The Ministry of Health also encourages people to wear masks even when outdoors for personal protection and to protect others, especially in crowded areas.
Indoor places refer to all buildings or places with clearly defined entrances and exits, such as office buildings, shopping malls, public transport and hawker centres and coffee shops. Places which are sheltered but with open access generally, such as HDB void decks, HDB corridors, retail block walkways, bus stops, and naturally ventilated bus interchanges will be regarded as outdoor areas.
3 scenarios to show you when to put on and take off your mask
Scenario 1: Going from home to the nearby coffee shop
Scenario 2: Taking a bus to the park
Scenario 3: Taking the train to a shopping mall
Wearing masks outdoors will be optional from Tuesday (March 29), but wearing masks indoors will continue to be mandatory, the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 announced on Thursday.
But which areas qualify as outdoors and which indoors? The Ministry of Health defines areas such as offices, schools, malls and trains as indoors, while parks and open-air sheltered bridges are outdoors.
It added that while mask-wearing outdoors will soon be optional, people are encouraged to continue wearing their masks for personal protection and to protect others, especially in crowded areas.
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
People in Singapore are now allowed to remove their masks when they are outdoors. When the relaxed Covid-19 rules kicked in at 12am on Tuesday (Mar. 29, 2022), the situation on the ground was relatively quiet, with no large crowds of unmasked people in sight.
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 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.
Traditional Chinese medicines beneficial in treatment of COVID-19 - WHO
Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are beneficial in the treatment of COVID-19, particularly mild-to-moderate cases, according to a new report released by the World Health Organization. It also encourages member states to consider the potential use of TCM for the management of COVID-19 in the context of their health care systems and regulatory frameworks.
The report came in late March after a WHO Expert Meeting on Evaluation of TCMs in the Treatment of COVID-19 was held virtually from February 28 to March 2. The meeting gathered 21 international experts from the six WHO regions to consider three reports, including on clinical service, research and evidence-based evaluation provided by national expert groups in China. According to the WHO report, there are also promising data to suggest that TCM is beneficial in reducing the risk of progression from mild-to-moderate cases to severe COVID-19. For mild-to-moderate cases, the report noted there is encouraging evidence that the studied TCMs, when administered as add-on interventions to conventional treatment, may shorten the time for viral clearance, resolution of clinical symptoms and length of hospital stay when compared to conventional treatment alone.
Meanwhile, experts hold that the studied TCM interventions, given in addition to conventional treatment, were well tolerated and have a safety profile that is comparable to that of conventional treatment alone. There is also encouraging evidence that early application of TCM may result in better clinical outcomes for patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, the report added. Based on the findings, the report recommends that the WHO share the outcomes of the meeting with member states in a timely manner, given the evolving nature of COVID-19 globally.
COVID-19: To Boost or not to Boost
Is It Time for Yet Another COVID Booster?
Will springtime be booster time - again? The first COVID-19 booster shot is now in the rearview mirror for millions of Americans - for the 28% who got it, at least - but new data finds it’s less effective after about 4 months. The CDC has already recommended a second booster for immunocompromised people.
So, is the next logical step another booster for every other adult? The consensus among public health officials seems to be: Not so fast. At the White House COVID-19 briefing Wednesday, chief White House medical adviser Anthony Fauci, MD, focused on the question of the hour. Citing data, he said that ''a single booster shot continues to provide high-level protection against severe disease caused by Omicron" in people who are not immunocompromised.
Fauci pointed to CDC research that found vaccine effectiveness after two doses of mRNA vaccines - either Moderna or Pfizer - drops to 58% after 4-5 months. After a booster dose, the vaccine is 91% effective, at first, at preventing hospitalizations. But that drops to 78% at months 4 to 5. "Nonetheless, the level of 78 [%] is still a good protective area," Fauci said. "The future requirement for an additional boost, or a fourth shot for mRNA or a third shot for [Johnson & Johnson], is being very carefully monitored in real time," he said, adding that recommendations will be updated as needed.
related:
COVID-19: Singapore enters Phase 2 reopening of 'CB'
Died but not classified as a Covid-19 death
COVID-19: Singapore exits 'Circuit Breakers'
Charged with COVID-19-related offences
COVID-19: Returning to Normalcy
Dormitory Infections Push Singapore Covid-19 Cases to New Record
Singapore activates 'Circuit Breakers' to minimise spread of Covid-19
How Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan are responding to Covid-19
When A Mask Is A Must
COVID-19: Singapore enters new phase of community transmission
Singapore reports first deaths from COVID-19
COVID-19: Deers & Monkeys roaming for food
Was Coronavirus Predicted in 1981 or 2008?
Died but not classified as a Covid-19 death
COVID-19: Singapore exits 'Circuit Breakers'
Charged with COVID-19-related offences
COVID-19: Returning to Normalcy
Dormitory Infections Push Singapore Covid-19 Cases to New Record
Singapore activates 'Circuit Breakers' to minimise spread of Covid-19
How Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan are responding to Covid-19
When A Mask Is A Must
COVID-19: Singapore enters new phase of community transmission
Singapore reports first deaths from COVID-19
COVID-19: Deers & Monkeys roaming for food
Was Coronavirus Predicted in 1981 or 2008?
COVID-19 panic: Why are people stockpiling toilet paper?
COVID-19 fears prompt panic buying across the World
Singapore urges calm after panic buying hits supermarketsCOVID-19 fears prompt panic buying across the World
Singapore reports its first cases of local COVID-19 transmission
Singapore confirms cases of COVID-19 Virus
