Free N95 and surgical masks at selected supermarkets, malls from Aug 26

SINGAPORE: Each family in Singapore could acquire 50 medical-grade surgical masks and 25 N95 masks at selected supermarkets and malls from Aug 26, as a part of a Temasek Foundation initiative. 

Providing particulars of its newest masks distribution train, Temasek Holdings chief govt Ho Ching stated the gathering interval will final for a month.

"So do consider avoiding the first three days of collection - past experiences show these to likely have peak demand before the numbers cool down to a steady pace," Mdm Ho stated in a Facebook publish on Tuesday (Aug 17).

The masks will be collected at bigger supermarkets from chains together with Sheng Siong, Prime, NTUC FairPrice, Cold Storage and Giant, in addition to selected CapitaLand malls.

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"These are bulky items - so pharmacies will not be participating in this exercise, as their outlets are too small to carry much stock," Mdm Ho wrote, including that the general public can go surfing to get data on the 131 taking part retailers.

Residents amassing their masks might want to current an digital or paper SP Group utility invoice displaying their account quantity. They must also convey their very own bag to hold the masks, stated Mdm Ho.

DELTA COVID-19 VARIANT

The upcoming masks distribution train was made public by Mdm Ho on Aug 4, when she introduced that Temasek Foundation was providing free medical-grade surgical masks as a result of the (*26*) variant is twice as contagious as earlier COVID-19 variants.

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"With an infectivity of five to six others for each COVID patient, we need 80 per cent of a population to wear 80 per cent effective masks or better to squeeze down the infection numbers," she wrote then.

"There are many sorts of face masks available in the market of various high quality. The reusable double layer masks in addition to lots of the pleated disposal masks can provide safety of about 80 per cent.

"With the medical-grade surgical and N95 masks with effectiveness of 95 per cent or better, we have an additional option for better protection."

On the lifespan of the masks, she wrote: "A 95 per cent effective mask will take four to five years to drop to 80 per cent effectiveness, still better than normal face masks found in the market."

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Temasek Foundation final month provided a free oximeter to all households to permit individuals to watch their blood oxygen commonly.