Singapore commuters still wear masks on public transport despite rules dropped

Many train riders were wearing a face covering on Monday despite the government announced last week the lifting of the mask mandate on public transport

‘Most people still had their masks on. Perhaps because it’s only the first day, so some adjustment is required,’ a commuter says

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Most commuters on Singapore’s MRT trains were wearing a mask on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 2:53pm, 13 Feb 2023Updated: 2:58pm, 13 Feb 2023

Mask-wearing on public transport in Singapore ceased to be mandatory on Monday but most commuters were seen retaining their face coverings while on trains and buses in the morning.

A multi-ministry task force announced last week that from Monday, it would no longer require the donning of masks on public transport, as Singapore steps down its disease alert level for Covid-19 to the lowest.

But a 37-year-old lawyer, who only wanted to be known as Ang, kept his mask on for his train commute on the North-South Line from Ang Mo Kio to his Raffles Place workplace on Monday morning.

“The train was really crowded,” he told CNA. “For me, I just recovered from an illness so it’s more out of consideration for others as well … It’s just more socially responsible.”

He observed that about 90 to 95 per cent of other people on the train were also wearing a mask.

“Eventually [I will stop wearing one]. But for now, probably out of precaution, because it has worked so far, so why change something that has worked?” said Ang, adding that trains and buses were more enclosed than other indoor areas.