*Before April*
Singaporeans: We want to wear masks!
Authorities: Don’t wear masks if you’re fine (i.e. not sick)!
*After April*
Singaporeans: We don’t want to wear masks liao!
Authorities: Don’t wear masks and you’ll be fined!
The Singapore government, like many other governing bodies around the world, recently made a U-turn regarding the public’s use of masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
With growing evidence that the coronavirus can be transmitted by patients who are asymptomatic, the authorities have now made the use of masks mandatory when Singaporeans leave their homes.
The act to wear a mask was, according to CNA, updated at 4am this morning. Someone had been working until super late this morning.
But what if we’re driving, or going for a walk?
Well, here’s everything you need to know about the new mask laws.
What Counts As a Mask?
Now, you may know that wearing a mask outside is now compulsory, but do you know what kind of mask you can wear?
Reader: The one the government gave lor
Well, yes, but according to Singapore Statues Online (SSO), which obviously is the most reliable source of information in the entire universe, a mask includes “any paper, textile or plastic covering designed or made to be worn over the nose and mouth to provide the wearer protection against infections or air pollution”.
So, you could technically print out this article, slap it over your face, and use it when you go outside to shield you from Covid-19.
Reader: But how will that help?
Well, our articles are so bad that not even the coronavirus will come near.
Reader: Good point.
You shouldn’t do that of course, since the government distributed reusable masks to every Singaporean with a registered address.
And you can wear a surgical mask if you happen to have one of those too, but you shouldn’t buy any more of them because they’re being conserved for healthcare workers.
Masks Must Be Worn At All Times Outside
Whatever mask you have, you’ll have to put on when you leave your house from now on.
As SSO states, every individual aged 2 and above must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times when they’re not at home.
So, even if you’re making a 2-minute trip to Giant to buy your daily 50 toilet rolls, you’ll still need to don a mask.
Exceptions To The Rule – Exercise
There are, however, some exceptions to this rule.
For instance, if you’re engaging in any strenuous exercise, you can take your mask off. This includes jogging or running but not walking.
How about cycling, you ask. That’s not mentioned in the act; you can’t expect the act to comprise all exercises, right?
Just remember this word: strenuous.
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Christan Grey: Everything to me is strenuous. Even looking at you, from your-
Ok, this is heading in the wrong direction so let’s move on.
Exceptions To The Rule – Lawfully Asked To Remove
And if you’re “lawfully directed” by a person to remove your mask so they can identify you, then that’s ok too.
Officer: Take off your mask
Reader: But the government told me to keep it on at all times
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Officer: But I am the government
Now, of course, that’s if someone who’s lawfully directing you. If it’s just BuffLord95 asking you to remove your mask so he’d know whether he’d want to take you out for dinner after 4 May 2020, that’s not lawful.
Exceptions To The Rule – In Cars
You can also go without a mask when travelling in a motor car or van alone, but only if the driver and every other passenger in the vehicle live in “the same place of
residence”.
So, this means that you’ll need to keep your mask on if you’re taking a taxi, or if you’re driving with your friend, which you’ve no reason to in the first place.
And of course, there’s no need to wear a mask when you’re alone in your car, unless you’re afraid of spreading Covid-19 to your Corolla.
Reader Bao: That’s the coldest joke ever
Colder-able enough.
Exceptions To The Rule – Certain Jobs or Activities
SSO also states that if you’re undertaking a job or taking part in an activity that requires you to take your mask off, then it’s ok.
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Examples include welding and diving.
There’s also no need to wear a mask inside your place of residence, so you can take it off when you’re at home.
Reader: Thank goodness, brushing my teeth was pretty hard
Anyone caught not wearing a mask when they leave their residence from now on faces a fine of S$300 for the first offence and S$1,000 if they do it again.
So, please remember to put it on when you go outside.
Even though we have this extra layer of protection, it’s important to stay at home as much as possible to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
But if you really have to go outside, wear a mask, practise safe distancing, and make your trips short.
These measures won’t be in place forever, so we just need to make some sacrifices for now.
If you’re too bored at home, then download the Goody Feed app to read more articles like this, whereby we turn serious topics into easy-to-digest articles and insert some cold jokes that are only funny to cats.
Or you can just binge-watch our YouTube videos lah, which is also informative, meaningful and entertaining. At least that’s what we think. Here’s an example:
