Singapore to end mask-wearing mandate [in most settings, soon]

[dairyfloss]

Good news recently out of Singapore, as reported via all the usual channels up there, and in this piece from Executive Traveller:
Singapore to end mask-wearing mandate

Singapore will scrap rules for wearing masks in most indoor settings as the country moves further toward casting off all its pandemic curbs.

Masks will be required only on public transport and health care facilities like hospitals and nursing homes after the easing, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his annual National Day Rally speech Sunday.

Under current long-standing arrangements, masks must be worn indoors at public venues such as shopping malls, hotels and restaurants (unless eating and drinking, of course).

Lee didn’t retail exactly when the mask ban would be lifted, saying details would be released “later”.

Taken from a Straits Times article on the same subject, he added:

"But don't take off your masks this very moment," he said, as details will be announced by Singapore's multi-ministry Covid-19 task force.

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[dairyfloss]

Singapore's Ministry of Health has now updated their guidance, and from 29th August mask wearing will become optional in all but high risk settings.

Changes to Safe Management Measures

3. As this wave passes, our population has become more COVID-resilient, due to high vaccination and boosting rates and safe recovery from infections. We are now able to take another step towards living with COVID-19.

4. We will remove the legal requirement for mask-wearing in indoor settings from 29 August 2022, except for settings where essential services are carried out in enclosed and crowded areas, and which are frequently used by vulnerable persons. Based on these considerations, we will still require the wearing of masks in the following two settings (further details in Annexes A and B):

a. Healthcare facilities, residential care homes (including welfare and sheltered homes for the aged, as well as adult disability homes) and ambulances: These include the indoor premises of hospitals and polyclinics (inclusive of retail, food and beverages (F&B) outlets, common areas and other facilities within the hospital/polyclinic building); private primary care and dental facilities, specialist clinics, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) clinics, renal dialysis centres, clinical and radiological laboratories, day hospices; residential care homes; COVID-19 care facilities, testing centres and vaccination centres; as well as on emergency ambulances and medical transport vehicles

b. Public transport: This covers the MRT/LRT and public buses, and indoor public transport facilities (e.g. boarding areas within bus interchanges and MRT platforms). Mask-wearing on private transport modes, as well as school buses, private bus services and taxis, will be optional.

Interestingly, from the details in Annex B they also look to have removed the requirement for Airlines to enforce mask wearing, so long as the origin or destination country does not require the use of masks.



More Details here: MOH | News Highlights

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[dairyfloss]

Singapore Airlines has relaxed requirements already, following the MOH announcement:

With effect from 29 August 2022, customers are not required to wear face masks on board flights, unless they are travelling to or from destinations that require a face mask. Please view the mask requirements for the various destinations here.

Customers who wish to wear a face mask on board may continue to do so. Face masks are also optional at Singapore Changi Airport.

Unfortunately, for now at least, Australia is one of the destinations that still requires mask wearing for inbound pax (you wouldn't need one flying up to SIN), but hopefully that will change soon enough.

More here: https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/sg/media-centre/news-alert/?id=l6wa9l6x

Cheers.
Matt.