SINGAPORE — The distribution of free masks by the Government to all 1.37 million households kicked off on Saturday (Feb 1), and residents who collected theirs largely experienced orderly proceedings and hardly any queues.  

The Government had announced on Thursday that each Singapore household can get a pack of four surgical masks, which will be progressively made available at 89 community centres (CCs) and 654 Residents’ Committee (RC) centres at an allocated date or time from Feb 1 to Feb 9. 

Some 1,500 Singapore Armed Forces personnel were deployed round the clock to pack these 5.2 million masks since Thursday. The Singapore Army said in an update on its Facebook page on Saturday evening that it had finished packing and delivering all the masks to the distribution centres. 

When TODAY checked out a distribution centre at the void deck of Block 109 Pasir Ris Street 11 at 1.30pm on Saturday, 30 minutes before collection was supposed to start, there was a queue of 15 people. But when the staff started the distribution early at about 140pm, the line disappeared in a matter of five minutes.

Thereafter, some residents trickled in from time to time, but they did not have to queue. 

Mr Lee Bon Bun, 76, one of the early birds, said he decided to get a head start on the collection because he was nearby.

“I have no masks at home, and it is very hard to get the masks outside. So I am keeping this just in case,” he said.

Residents said they heard about the mask distribution through news reports, notices placed around their estates, mail circulars and messages from friends.

Among them was housewife Mrs Yuen Kwong, 57, who told TODAY that she also struggled to find masks in stores.

“Two weeks ago there were masks available, but now they are all out of stock in stores,” she said in Mandarin, adding that she appreciated the free masks given by the Government. 

Mr Anthony Joseph, 60, a volunteer at another collection point at Blk 227 Pasir Ris 21, said that the distribution was smooth, with some 50 mask packs given out by 215 pm before the crowd thinned.

It was a similarly quiet scene at the Residents' Network at Block 293 Choa Chu Kang Ave 3 when TODAY arrived at around 4pm.

There were in fact more volunteers than residents, who were able to collect their masks in a minute or two by showing their identity card.

Some were all smiles when volunteers handed over the plastic-wrapped masks to them. However, Choa Chu Kang resident Mr Rizam Johari, 46, was concerned that the set would not be enough for his family of four.

“My family was not able to buy a box, and this pack of four is all we have,” he said.

The Government had said that masks are not required for people who are well, and meant to be used when someone is unwell but has to leave the house to seek medical attention. The mask then helps prevent the unwell person from spreading a virus to others.

The collection period for each household varies depending on the location, and collection times are staggered, mostly by housing blocks, to prevent queues forming.

For example, each household at Tampines East can collect the masks on two designated dates between Feb 1 and Feb 5, while those at Teban Gardens can do so over five days from Feb 1 to Feb 5.

Meanwhile, some Toa Payoh East residents are assigned one specific day from Feb 1 to 5 when they can pick up their packs. Over at Owen Road RC Centre, residents can collect theirs on Feb 1, Feb 3 and Feb 4 during a two or three-hour period each day. 

However, all households who miss their allocated collection timing can still head to their respective CCs at a later date to pick up their mask packs. 

Volunteers at the Owen Road RC Centre said they had served around 10 residents in 30 minutes when it re-opened at 7pm on Saturday, having opened for three hours earlier in the day. 

“There was no rush at all,” one of the volunteers said.

Toa Payoh East Zone 6 RC Chairman Mr Shawkat Ali Khan, 55, said his team had given out roughly 200 packs in the first two hours after it started the distribution.

“It is much better than when we were giving out masks for Sars. It is much quieter than before,” he told TODAY, referring to the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003. 

Member of Parliament for the Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency Saktiandi Supaat said he was glad that there was no panic among residents to get their masks.

“For those that can’t collect their masks today, there is no rush,” he said.

“There is no need for panic because we have not had any evidence of community transmission yet.” 

Ms Irene Lai, 42, a property agent who lives at Pasir Ris Block 227, said she was in no hurry to collect her mask pack. She was watching television with her family when the collection point below her flat opened.

“If the government says there is enough for everyone, I trust there will be enough. No need to be so kiasu,” she said.

You can find out where and when to collect your mask packs at https://maskgowhere.sg/ or you can call 1800 333 9999. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY NG JUN SEN