Macau will drop its outdoor mask mandate starting from Monday as the Covid-19 pandemic eases, leaving Hong Kong among the few cities in the world where wearing a face covering is still required in most public areas.

The casino hub’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre on Sunday said while masks would no longer be required outdoors, they were still needed in certain indoor situations such as on public transport and while visiting medical institutions.

“[The centre] stressed that the indoor mask wearing requirements can be adjusted again according to the actual development of the Covid-19 situation,” it said in a statement.

Authorities advised the public to still carry masks when going out, so that they can use them when necessary and to keep a two weeks’ supply at home in case of emergency.

If a Covid-19 cluster emerged at large-scale gatherings, nurseries and non-tertiary education institutions, organisers should require people to wear a mask before entering such premises, the centre said.

People should also wear a mask when they developed a fever, sore throat or other flu-like symptoms, it added.

Macau earlier required the wearing of masks in public areas and allowed companies to decide their own policies.

Hong Kong’s mask mandate, which was introduced in July 2020, was recently extended to March 8.

But Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on Friday said the rule could be dropped by the “end of the season”. The Post learned Chan was referring to the end of March.

The city remains one of the last places in the world where masks are required in most public areas. Most places such as Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan have dropped their mask mandates.