The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday agreed to ease the requirement for wearing a face mask, making it voluntary outdoors or in uncrowded places.

The CCSA meeting agreed that this and other easing of Covid-19 controls would take effect when published in the Royal Gazette. A spokesman earlier said the target date for the changes was July 1.

The planned relaxation of Covid-19 controls are:

- Redesignating all 77 provinces nationwide as  green Covid surveillance zones. Currently there are 14 green, 46 yellow high surveillance provinces and 17 blue or tourism "sandbox'' provinces;

- Extending the closing hours of nightspots, pubs, bars, karaoke shops, bars and similar venues from midnight to 2am;

- Allowing people to go unmasked on a voluntary basis when they are in low-risk areas, uncrowded areas or outdoors, across the country.

Face mask wearing will still be required in crowded areas such as public transport,  and markets and concert venues.