All Singapore residents are eligible to collect an improved version of reusable masks as part of the country's third mask collection exercise starting from May 26, 2020.
Reusable masks can be washed up to 30 times, but cannot be wrung or twisted
The mask is a local anti-bacterial innovation from the Nanyang Technological University Food Science and Technology Lab.
According to the maker, the reusable masks have a "bacterial filtration efficiency of at least 95 per cent".
The mask packaging stated that the reusable masks can be reused and washed up to 30 times.
Photo via Zhangxin Zheng
On its website, it included an instructional video guiding users on how to clean their face masks.
In the video, users are instructed to:
- Rinse the front and back of the mask with room temperature water
- Add a drop of soap and rub the mask gently
- Carefully wash away the soap on the mask
- Hang the mask to dry. Do not use an iron to dry the mask.
The video emphasised that users should not twist or wring the mask.
Bleach, softeners and detergents with fluorescent agents should not be used as well.
Kid-sized masks can be washed with the nose strip attached, the video noted.
Users should take note of the instructions on how to clean the "ultra masks" to ensure the product's full effectiveness.
All Singapore residents eligible for collection
All residents with a valid identification card can collect one ultra mask each over a three-week period.
From May 26 to June 14, residents can collect the masks at all 109 Community Clubs (CCs) and 661 Residents' Committee (RC) Centres, from 10am to 6pm daily.
Residents may also collect the masks from vending machines, available at all CCs, which will be operational 24 hours daily during the three-week period.
These vending machines will only be operational from May 26, 10am onwards.
This includes foreign domestic workers, foreign workers not living in dormitories and international students living in hostels, but does not include foreign tourists.
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.
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Top image via Zhangxin Zheng