Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/mothershipsg

Temasek Foundation will be handing out free surgical and N95 masks, just not today (Aug. 4).

This photo that has been making rounds is from a pilot trial, said Ho Ching in a Facebook post.

Here's the message that has been forwarded many times which you might have received too:

What is the photo about?

Ho explained that the banner in the circulated photo was taken from a pilot trial at one of the shopping malls.

The pilot trial is not open to public and it is not true that the public collection starts on Aug. 4.

Public distribution likely to be in end-August

Members of the public can expect the mask distribution exercise to happen in end-August, or September if more time is needed to resolve "backend issues".

Ho said that each household can expect to redeem a box with 50 pieces of medical grade surgical masks, and a box with 25 pieces of N95 respirator masks using their SP utility bills.

Temasek Foundation will be working with CapitaLand malls, and larger supermarkets in this distribution of masks.

The pilot trial was used to integrate the scanning of Singapore Power (SP) household bills into the backend systems of participating malls and supermarkets to facilitate this upcoming distribution.

No bags will be provided during the distribution of masks to save time, cost, and the planet, said Ho.

Instead, she encouraged those collecting masks on their household's behalf to bring their own bags to reduce plastic waste.

Better protection against contagious Covid-19 variants

Ho explained that the upcoming mask distribution exercise aims to provide better protection to residents in Singapore against new Covid-19 variants such as the Delta variant which is more contagious than earlier variants.

Hence, Singapore residents will need to wear more effective masks to bring down infection numbers.

Ho said that reusable double-layer masks, along with pleated disposable masks can offer protection, but only around 80 per cent.

Medical grade surgical masks, in comparison, are "top grade surgical masks" which have 95 per cent filtration efficiency or better.

In addition, N95 masks have been worn for high risk jobs such as looking after Covid-19 patients or doing mass swabbing exercises.

Ho recommended for medical grade surgical masks to be worn by those with flu-like symptoms while N95 masks to be worn by a person who has tested positive on an antigen rapid test kit, or by an unvaccinated individual wishing to visit someone in a hospital, or a nursing home.

Ho also advised members of the public to store the masks in "dry and air tight conditions, away from direct sunlight" for the masks can last beyond their expiry date.

Masks should not be stored in the bathroom as "high humidity will shorten the useful lifespan of the mask", said Ho.

You can read her post here:

Follow and listen to our podcast here