When should I wear a mask?

From 13 February 2023, mask-wearing on public transport and indoor healthcare and residential care settings will no longer be required under the temporary COVID-19 regulations.

However, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will retain the practice of mask-wearing for all visitors, staff and patients who are six years or older, in healthcare and residential care settings, where there is interaction with patients and in indoor patient-facing areas (further details below). Examples are hospital wards, clinics, and nursing homes. This will be a MOH requirement rather than mandated under the COVID-19 regulations. This is to better protect patients and healthcare workers from infectious diseases in general.

Besides healthcare, other authorities may also require mask-wearing, just as the Singapore Food Agency has required food handlers to wear a mask or spit guard for food safety reasons. Private enterprises may also opt to maintain mask-wearing requirements as company policy for workplace health and safety or business continuity reasons.

As mask-wearing is an effective way to minimise the risk of infectious diseases, we encourage members of the public, especially the elderly and immunocompromised, to wear masks in crowded places, or when visiting or interacting with vulnerable persons. We strongly advise individuals who are unwell with symptoms of COVID-19 or other respiratory infections to wear a mask when they need to leave their homes.

* Settings not covered here (e.g. allied health clinics operating outside the premises of hospitals and polyclinics, non-residential senior care centres, home care services) may wish to maintain precautionary measures for the health and safety of their staff, clients and visitors, and for business continuity needs.