Temasek Foundation debunks circulated photo regarding distribution of masks on Aug 4

Temasek Foundation has clarified that it will be distributing free N95 and surgical masks in late August or early September amidst confusion that distribution had started on Wednesday (Aug 4).

A Stomper alerted Stomp to a photo circulating online of a banner advertising the distribution of masks.

"Many people received this and brought their bills to the supermarket to collect the masks but the staff said they never received any message regarding this," he said.

Temasek Foundation addressed the circulated photo in a Facebook post and said this was fake news.

There was no distribution exercise on Wednesday and it was only a trial of the collection exercise, not open to the public.

Temasek chief executive Ho Ching also addressed the 'fake news' on her Facebook page.

The foundation is working with CapitaLand malls and larger supermarkets to distribute the masks using SP Group utility bills.

The exercise was originally scheduled to start after National Day (Aug 9) but had been pushed back to give participating organisations time to test the system.

Under the new exercise, each household will receive 50 medical-grade surgical masks and 25 N95 respirator masks.

The new Delta variant is twice as contagious as the other variants that caused Covid-19 last year and will require Singapore residents to wear more effective masks to bring down infection numbers, Ms Ho said.