Singapore government will no longer discourage the wearing of face masks even for individuals who are well.
SINGAPORE — Singapore will no longer discourage the public from wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in a televised speech to the nation on Friday .
Distributing reusable masks to all householdsPM Lee said that, from this Sunday, the government will distribute reusable masks to all households. Case going undetected in the community nowadaysSince the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Singapore government has advised the general public that they need to wear a face mask only if they are not feeling well, and this is to protect others from their germs.“We also did not have community spread in Singapore then, so it was very unlikely for you to run into anyone with COVID-19 on the street, much less be infected by them,” he said.
In the last few days, we have also discovered several clusters at foreign worker dormitories, and one at a nursing home. I discussed this with the multi-ministry taskforce. We have decided that instead of tightening incrementally over the next few weeks, we should make a decisive move now, to pre-empt escalating infections.It will help reduce the risk of a big outbreak occurring, and it should also help to gradually bring our numbers down.
We also should not disrupt economic sectors that are strategic or form part of a global supply chain. The spirit of these measures is to get all of us to minimise physical contact. If we don’t go out, if we avoid contact with others, then the virus won’t be able to spread.As a practical matter, in places like hawker centres and wet markets, it is difficult to practise safe-distancing, especially on the weekends when it is crowded.
It is in our nature to want to socialise, to be close to those we are talking to, to take comfort in the warmth and company of friends and family. Each and every one of us can, and must do our part, to keep everyone in Singapore safe from COVID-19.I decided to speak to you directly today to explain why we need to make this major move, but also to reassure you that things will be alright.
Rather than hang out and eat outside with your friends, I know these measures will impact our workers and businesses severely.On Monday in Parliament, DPM Heng will announce additional support for households and businesses, over and above what was provided in the two earlier Budgets. We also now have evidence that an infected person can show no symptoms, and yet still pass on the virus to others.Therefore we will no longer discourage people from wearing masks.This is so that you keep your droplets to yourself. It can also protect yourself a little better, especially if you are elderly, or vulnerable because of pre-existing conditions.
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