Singapore will shortly eliminate its mandatory mask rules at airports and onboard airplanes. This is big news from a nation that was amongst the most cautious in addressing the pandemic.
Singapore Eliminates Mask Rules At Airports And On Airplanes
Citing steadily declining infection numbers and hospitalizations, Singapore announced that indoor masking will no longer be mandatory starting on August 29, 2022. While masks will still be required on public transport and in healthcare facilities, masks will no longer be required at Singapore Changi Airport, Seletar Airport, or onboard flights to and from Singapore.
Masks will still be required on some Singapore Airlines flights (as well as on other carriers serving Singapore). Germany, for example, still requires masks onboard flights, so passengers will continue to have to mask on SQ25 and SQ26. Furthermore, Spain still requires masks onboard, so Singapore Airlines will require masks on its Fifth Freedom flights between Milan and Barcelona, SQ377 and SQ378. Masking polices of other nations, like Indonesia and South Korea, will still mean masking onboard on a handful of flights.
Why This Is Particularly Great News
Singapore has charted a unique trajectory when it comes to COVID-19. The city-state went from a “zero COVID” policy (to the extent that it teased a new meeting concept separated by glass) to one of the region’s most liberal.
Beyond the falling case numbers, this policy change was driven by the recognition that 1.) COVID-19 will not be eradicated and 2.) COVID-19 is far more easily treatable now than in the past. It’s really the best we can hope for: somehow we must go about living our lives, recognizing that coexistence with the virus is a necessity.
When I flew though Singapore Changi last November, I was not even allowed in the regular departures hall because I was traveling from Bangkok, deemed a high-risk country. Starting next week, not only will I be able to roam freely, I won’t even have to wear a mask.
> Read More: My Singapore Transit Was Not What I Expected
I’m just a traveler, but I appreciate being able to weigh the risk myself and act accordingly. Those who do not trust their fellow travelers are free to wear N95 or N100 masks to better protect themselves.
CONCLUSION
Singapore’s move is quite a contrast to Germany, where the Bundestag earlier officially extended obligatory transportation masking (onboard planes, trains, busses) till April 2023. The fact that cautious Singapore is making this move represents a final thaw in the sort of protocols that may provide some level of added security, but no longer make sense considering the overall risk dynamic.
Singapore is making such decision as a bully government, albeit one that tries not to be too much of a bully. Singapore, like many parliamentary governments such as Canada and the UK, is a limited dictatorship when there is a majority government until the next election.
Singapore is trying to be open for business, not keep the health of the population in top condition. It is very telling that Singapore is continuing a mask requirement on public transit (except flights) as well as in health care facilities, like clinics and hospitals.
I get it that it’s uncomfortable to wear a mask in very hot weather.
As far as this quote, “COVID-19 is far more easily treatable now than in the past.”, I am still concerned. Long covid continues to be a serious problem. My feeling is that people should continue to wear masks except in situations that are more important, such as obtaining sex (going out on dates) or if occupationally required (like TV news anchors and prostitutes). In unimportant situations, like going to the grocery store, wear a N95 mask.
Note: Singapore’s vaccination rate is 93% and vaccination with booster rate is 79%. America’s vaccination rate is much worse. 67.9% vaccinated and 33% vaccination with booster. Terrible. Why is America so dumb?
I’m glad yours is a fringe position.
Lots of dumb in this comment, but I zeroed on on this one: “obtaining sex”
Who talks like that lmao? Are you a john?
no, i am derek
This post sounds very much like an argument for why you should keep wearing masks, not for why everyone should. In your judgment, covid remains a risk for which a mask is necessary as a means of risk reduction. That is an assessment you are free to make, and nobody is telling you that you can’t wear the highest quality, best fitting mask on the market to protect yourself. What they are doing is allowing others to make their own assessment of the situation and decide what risk mitigation is or is not right for them. That is how it should work since everyone’s situation, health, history with covid, and personal risk tolerance are different.
“ or if occupationally required (like TV news anchors and prostitutes)”
lMAO with your examples…..
Masks don’t work. Anyone still wearing them shows they are stupid.
People working in the ICU treating Covid patients wear N95 masks and have largely avoided getting sick.
I am not stupid just because I still feel more comfortable wearing masks. I‘m going to keep doing this in years from now, it makes travel so much more careless. And I will keep asking FAs to enforce the mask rule. I‘m from Germany and I have already repeatedly reported crews on flights that didn’t enforce the mask rule to authorities. I simply don’t get it, why is it so hard to wear that mask? It’s obligatory here, why do you all keep restraining? Sometimes you just have to accept that rules are rules!
Germans had pieces of flair that were obligatory, too. Rules are rules!
N95’s work very well. Crappy masks are just that, crappy.
N95s only work better than crappy surgical masks if properly worn. A properly worn N95 should be referred to as a respirator and not a mask. Their functions are quite different. Mask mandates are useless as masks, or what pass for them, are simply ineffective in stopping the spread of airborne pathogens. N95s as worn by people in the wild are also likely not well-fit. Stop the magical thinking. The world can be a dangerous place, but SARS-CoV-2 is not that dangerous for most people and the mitigations forced on the public by the government often make things worse. The best thing one can do as mitigation is to lose weight and get in shape. Sun and steel!
In before people start arguing about politics
I’m very happy to hear this. I’ve been an admirer of SG’s Covid policy since the beginning. It all seemed common sense. I flew to Changi last December to stay for the Holidays. I tested at the airport, and every morning for a week. It was worth it and we had a great New Years there. I went back in July and it was nice seeing the airport pretty much back to normal with no testing required. Didn’t have to wear a mask outside either. Now I don’t have to wear a mask on the flight when I go back in September, things just keep getting better.
I am not connecting in Frankfurt or Munich until that stupid policy is dropped. Although the policy is only on flights to Germany right? Germany to US flights don’t require it?
Correct, though Lufthansa requires it in either direction(and United does not in either direction).
I was in Lufthansa’s First class two days ago on the JFK-FRA route and no one was wearing a mask and the FAs didn’t seem to care. Have they been enforcing when you flew LH’s first class @Matthew?
Yes. On both flights, one in April and one earlier this month.
@ Matthew — Brilliant timing for JFK-FRA-SIN Suites trip soon. Woo hoo!
You’ll still have to wear a mask on that flight due to the German mask requirements…
You need a mask. Now with Flu season coming. There are new respiratory viruses all the time. And with Monkeypox being transmissible by air droplets. And with people coughing on you in the seat beside you. You can still get Covid even if you’re vaccinated. And it won’t be a very pleasant trip if you do. But as far as a flimsy mask is concerned, it’s probably not going to do that much. I usually wear a medical N95 mask once I sit and settle down on the flight. Trust me I’m a Real Nurse!