On Thursday (Jan. 30), the government announced that it would distribute 5.2 million masks to 1.37 million Singapore households to ease the shortage of masks in Singapore.
In order to pack these masks in time, 1,500 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel from Combat Service Support Command carried out mask support operations at the SAFTI Military Institute.
5.2 million free masks will be distributed to 1.37 million households in S’pore
The SAF have been mobilised to deal with the crisis
According to the earlier announcement, the start of mask distribution will begin on Feb. 1, 2020.
Collection of marks for both public and private estates will start progressively, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 9, 2020.
This meant that it was necessary to get the first batch of masks ready within two days.
The gargantuan task meant the services of the 1,500 SAF personnel were required.
They performed a variety of roles, such as packers, logisticians, transport operators and administrators.
They were visited on Jan. 31 by Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen and Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing.
“The SAF is very aware that all the agencies within the government must lean forward and do our part against the Wuhan virus… We have been involved in a number of aspects for the containment of the Wuhan virus. All of us, of course, are hoping that we can prevent the community spread and that is the most important,” said Ng.
Ng later posted on Facebook about his visit, thanking SAF personnel for “their commitment and efforts in this combined effort”.
“As we came through SARS and the haze, intact and more united, I believe we will overcome this challenge too,” he said.
In addition to mask support operations, SAF personnel have also been mobilised to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Ng said that SAF personnel is supporting the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore in the health and temperature screening of passengers at Changi Airport.
SAF personnel have also been conducting contact tracing for personnel identified to have a risk of being infected.
The SAF responded in a similar fashion during the SARS crisis in 2003, and the haze crisis in 2013, where SAF personnel were mobilised to pack and distribute N95 masks to Singaporeans.
However, Ng emphasised that despite the SAF’s role during such extreme circumstances, Singapore’s security is still paramount.
“The primary responsibility of the SAF is to safeguard Singapore’s peace and security,” said Ng.
Top image from Ng Eng Hen’s Facebook.
