On April 3rd the Singaporean Government announced that it will no longer discourage people from wearing face masks. Further the government will be distributing reusable masks to all household said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
“Therefore, we will no longer discourage people from wearing masks,” the Prime Minister said in his address to the nation.
Mr Lee also talked that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were also reviewing their guidance on the use of face masks. The rationale for this move comes as evidence mounts that the virus is transmissible asymptomatically.
“Wearing a mask may help to protect others, in case you have the virus but don’t know it. This is so that you keep your droplets to yourself.” Further he stated, “It can also protect yourself a little better, especially if you are elderly, or vulnerable because of pre-existing conditions,”
The Prime Minister also made clear that the Singaporean government wanted to conserve surgical masks for healthcare workers in the medical environment.
“So, from this Sunday, the Government will distribute reusable masks to all households.”
Therefore, we will no longer discourage people from wearing masks . Wearing a mask may help to protect others, in case you have the virus but don’t know it. This is so that you keep your droplets to yourself – when you sneeze or speak or cough. It can also protect yourself a little better, especially if you are elderly, or vulnerable because of pre-existing health conditions.
Prime Minister Lee, in his address to nation on 3 Apr on COVID-19 situation
Many community groups in Singapore have begun “making and distributing reusable masks for the elderly and vulnerable. I applaud these efforts. They show our community spirit and mutual care,” said Mr Lee.
The advice was tempered by the advice that people still need to wash their hands and continue to practice social distancing.
On Jan 30th this year amid the early worries about Covid-19, Singapore announced that each household would receive 4 surgical masks. This was in-part to show the Singaporean people that the government could supply masks to everyone that would need them and in the hope that is would prevent the needless hoarding of masks by individuals.
