S'pore residents can collect improved reusable masks at CCs & RCs from May 26 - June 14

There will be two mask sizes available for collection: adult size and kid size. 

Jason Fan | May 21, 2020, 07:15 PM

Singapore residents will be able to collect an improved version of reusable masks as part of the nation's third mask collection exercise, from May 26 onwards.

All Singapore residents are eligible

According to a People's Association press release on May 21, all residents with a valid identification card can collect one reusable mask each over a three-week period.

This includes foreign domestic workers, foreign workers not living in dormitories and international students living in hostels, but does not include foreign tourists.

For foreign workers living in dormitories, masks will be distributed through Ministry of Manpower channels.

Masks can be collected over a three-week period

From May 26 to June 1, residents can collect the masks at all 109 Community Clubs (CCs) and 661 Residents' Committee (RC) Centres, from 10am to 6pm daily.

For all three weeks, from May 26 to June 14, residents may also collect the masks from vending machines, available at all CCs, which will be operational 24 hours a day.

Those who need assistance may approach the CC’s mask collection counter from 11am to 6pm.

These vending machines will only be operational from May 26, 10am onwards.

Image from People's Association.

Residents can visit the MaskGowhere website, set up by GovTech, for the latest information on the mask collection exercise, and to check the availability of masks in vending machines before collection.

Two mask sizes available

There will be two mask sizes available for collection: adult size and kid size.

The kid size masks are suitable for children 12 years old and below. Priority will be allocated to children 12 years old and below.

Both types of reusable masks are made of at least three layers of material, and new materials have also been used for these masks to improve their resistance to droplets and comfort for users.

According to the PA, these new masks have a "bacterial filtration efficiency of at least 95 per cent, even after 30 washes".

Those with adult identity cards will only be able to collect adult size masks, while those with children identity documents for children 12 years old and below can collect either an adult or kid size mask.

400 mask vending machines

In order to avoid crowding at the collection points, families are encouraged to appoint one person to collect the masks on behalf of their whole household.

That person would have to bring along their family members' NRICs, Birth Certificate or any government-issued identification with barcode.

Temasek Foundation has also provided 400 vending machines to all the CCs across Singapore, for those who may not be able to collect the masks from the various CCs and RC Centres during operating hours.

According to the PA, all the high-touch areas on the vending machines are treated with self-disinfecting coating, which can last three months.

These vending machines will also be cleaned and restocked regularly.

Top image from PA.