29 Sep 2023
Singapore, 29 September 2023 – As of 29 September 2023, 3pm, the 24-hr Pollutant Requirements Index (PSI) is 81 (Reasonable vary) within the East area of Singapore. Accordingly, the 28 public businesses that make up the Authorities’s Haze Activity Power (HTF), are able to roll out their respective haze motion plans ought to the air high quality deteriorate into the Unhealthy vary (24-hour PSI above 100).
2 There was a rise within the variety of hotspots over Sumatra prior to now few days, with 241 and 145 hotspots detected on 27 and 28 September 2023 respectively. Reasonable to dense smoke haze was noticed over elements of south and central Sumatra. The winds in our close by area are anticipated to proceed blowing from the southeast and hold the dense haze away from Singapore. Whereas Singapore just isn’t anticipated to expertise extreme haze within the coming days, the PSI might deteriorate if there’s a shift in wind path.
3 Present air high quality readings and advisories to guard the well being and well-being of the general public, particularly the extra susceptible teams such because the aged, pregnant ladies, kids and people with continual lung and coronary heart illnesses can be found on www.haze.gov.sg, www.nea.gov.sg and the myENV app.
4 The general public ought to discuss with the present 1-hour PM 2.5 focus as an indicator of present air high quality, and to discuss with the related 1-hour PM 2.5 private information, when planning their strenuous or outside actions over the following few hours. The 1-hour PM 2.5 focus degree may be unstable and fluctuate over the day resulting from climate situations, particularly in periods of transboundary haze.
5 The well being affect of haze on a person relies on his or her well being standing, the 24-hour PSI degree, and the period and depth of out of doors actions. Decreasing outside actions and bodily exertion may also help cut back sick results from haze publicity. Drink water to remain hydrated. These with continual coronary heart and lung situations ought to make sure that remedy is readily available or available. Susceptible individuals, together with the aged, pregnant ladies, kids, and people with continual coronary heart and lung situations, who develop signs or really feel unwell, ought to search medical consideration promptly. Extra sensible ideas for households to cut back publicity to haze may be discovered right here.
6 NEA will proceed to intently monitor the haze state of affairs and supply additional updates if the state of affairs adjustments. Ought to the 24-hour PSI be anticipated to enter the Unhealthy vary, NEA will present every day haze advisories. The every day haze advisory consists of the 24-hour PSI forecast, which can be utilized by the general public in planning their actions and occasions the following day.
Authorities Haze Activity Power
7 The HTF, which is chaired by NEA, develops and implements motion plans to minimise and handle the affect of haze on Singapore. HTF member businesses have sturdy motion plans in place, permitting tiered responses relying on the depth of the haze, that are primarily based on the air high quality readings and forecasts.
8 The HTF convenes yearly earlier than the beginning of the dry season to replace its plans. The HTF convened in April this yr to arrange for the dry season, which started in June. Confer with Annex A for the listing of HTF members. For extra particulars of the HTF’s motion plans for mitigating the affect of haze, please discuss with Annex B.
Issued on behalf of businesses within the Haze Activity Power
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For extra info, please submit your enquiries electronically through the On-line Suggestions Kind or myENV cellular software.
Annex A
Listing of Haze Activity Power Member Companies
The Haze Activity Power (HTF) was fashioned in September 1994 and is a part of a coordinated effort throughout the entire of presidency. The HTF includes representatives from 28 authorities businesses.
S/N Company 1 Ministry of Communications and Info 2 Ministry of Tradition, Group and Youth 3 Ministry of Defence 4 Ministry of Training 5 Ministry of Overseas Affairs 6 Ministry of Well being 7 Ministry of Residence Affairs 8 Ministry of Manpower 9 Ministry of Nationwide Improvement 10 Ministry of Social and Household Improvement 11 Ministry of Sustainability and the Surroundings 12 Ministry of Commerce and Business 13 Ministry of Transport 14 Constructing and Development Authority 15 Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore 16 Power Market Authority 17 Authorities Know-how Company (GovTech) 18 Land Transport Authority 19 Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore 20 Nationwide Surroundings Company (Chair) 21 Individuals’s Affiliation 22 Public Service Division 23 PUB, Singapore’s Nationwide Water Company 24 Singapore Civil Defence Power 25 Singapore Meals Company 26 Singapore Police Power 27 Sport Singapore 28 Singapore Tourism Board
Annex B
HTF Member Companies’ Motion Plans
Recommendation on Masks-wearing for the Public
1 Usually, N95 masks usually are not required for brief durations of publicity, reminiscent of commuting from dwelling to highschool or work, or in an indoor atmosphere. Nonetheless, a wholesome particular person who must be outdoor for a number of hours might put on aN95 masks (or equal [1]) to cut back publicity when the forecasted air high quality is within the Hazardous vary (PSI >300). Susceptible individuals are suggested to keep away from or minimise outside exercise when the forecasted air high quality is Very Unhealthy (PSI >200). In the event that they need to be outdoor for a number of hours, they will cut back publicity to haze particles by sporting a N95 masks. The aged, pregnant ladies and individuals with lung or coronary heart issues who’ve problem respiration at relaxation or on exertion ought to seek the advice of their physician on whether or not they need to use the N95 masks.
2 We want to guarantee the general public that there are enough shares of N95 masks within the warehouses and in authorities stockpiles.
Recommendation for Well being Sector
3 The Ministry of Well being has labored with healthcare establishments (together with public hospitals, polyclinics and nursing properties) to place in place haze preparedness measures and put together for any enhance within the variety of instances of haze-related situations. These measures embody utilizing air purifiers and followers, and decreasing ambient temperature by deploying transportable air coolers the place acceptable. Our public healthcare establishments are additionally monitoring sufferers intently for attainable well being results of the haze and can institute acceptable medical intervention the place mandatory.
4 Group care suppliers providing residential and centre-based providers to seniors ought to present indoor shelter for workers and residents/purchasers in addition to minimise or keep away from actions with extended or strenuous outside bodily exertion when the forecasted air high quality is within the Unhealthy vary (PSI > 100). Outside actions ought to stop or get replaced with indoor actions when the forecasted air high quality reaches the Very Unhealthy vary (PSI > 200).
5 Healthcare establishments and group care suppliers will use the forecasted 24-hour PSI for ahead planning, however might regulate these plans as acceptable primarily based on the 1-hour PM2.5 readings.
Recommendation for Preschools
6 The Early Childhood Improvement Company requires preschools to watch the air high quality ranges and adjust to the corresponding well being advisories. Preschools ought to minimise extended outside actions and strenuous indoor bodily train and actions for youngsters when the air high quality is within the Unhealthy vary (PSI > 100). Throughout such occasions, kids with underlying continual coronary heart and lung situations mustn’t take part in bodily train, even when indoors.
7 To safeguard the final well-being of the kids, all preschools are geared up with air purifiers and will have at the very least one enclosed room with air air purifier(s) turned on to quickly accommodate kids who might develop into unwell or develop respiratory issues resulting from haze. The well being of all kids must be monitored intently. Ought to any baby exhibit respiratory issues or really feel unwell, the preschool ought to enable the kid to relaxation in an enclosed room with air air purifier(s) turned on and inform the mother and father to select up their baby as quickly as attainable to hunt medical consideration for the kid.
Guaranteeing the Properly-Being of College students in Faculties
8 The Ministry of Training (MOE) and colleges are ready to reply and take acceptable haze administration measures to make sure the well-being of scholars and workers, taking reference from NEA’s readings. Faculties will proceed to make use of the 24-hour PSI forecast for ahead planning, however will regulate these plans as acceptable primarily based on the 1-hour PM2.5 readings.
9 All school rooms of main and secondary colleges, MOE Kindergartens and Particular Training colleges have been geared up with air purifiers to reinforce the well-being of scholars throughout a haze state of affairs. Lecturers can be looking out for college kids who’re unwell or have pre-existing lung or coronary heart situations. Mother and father ought to guarantee their kids have their remedy, reminiscent of inhalers for bronchial asthma, with them, if required and take their kids to hunt medical consideration if they’re unwell or exhibit respiratory issues resulting from haze. For extra info on colleges’ haze administration plans, discuss with https://www.moe.gov.sg/about-us/emergency-preparedness/haze-management.
Recommendation for Employers
10 The Ministry of Manpower reminds employers to implement mandatory precautions and measures (www.mother.gov.sg/haze) to make sure the well being and security of their staff on the office within the occasion that the 24-hour PSI reaches the Unhealthy vary (PSI>100). The up to date measures embody:
Decreasing extended or strenuous work for wholesome staff
Minimising extended or strenuous outside work for aged or pregnant staff
Avoiding extended or strenuous outside work for workers with continual lung or coronary heart illness
Taking danger mitigating measures reminiscent of use of mechanical aids, job rotation, instituting indoor relaxation breaks and guaranteeing sufficient hydration and so forth.
Safeguarding Singapore
11 The Singapore Armed Forces underneath the Ministry of Defence and the Residence Group Departments underneath the Ministry of Residence Affairs are nicely geared up and can proceed to safeguard Singapore’s peace and safety amid the haze state of affairs. Primarily based on the 24-hour PSI forecast, now we have calibrated the extent and depth of coaching and outside actions, in addition to taken precautionary measures to make sure the well being and security of all service personnel.
Recommendation for Motorists and Commuters
12 Past implementing haze mitigation measures for the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and public transport operators’ staff, the LTA has additionally reminded motorists of the security precautions they need to take and the way commuters can hold up-to-date with info pertaining to any affected public transport service. By the Expressway Monitoring and Advisory Techniques, motorists are reminded to drive with care and swap on their headlights when visibility is low. Commuters can be knowledgeable of any prepare or bus service which has been affected via the MyTransport.SG cellular software in addition to different platforms reminiscent of LTA’s Fb and Twitter pages.
Sporting Actions
13 Sport Singapore advises all individuals and organisers of sports activities actions to watch the air high quality and comply with the corresponding well being advisories. Occasion organisers ought to conduct their very own danger administration with due consideration of the well being advisories when deciding whether or not to proceed with sports activities actions. Whereas outside and indoor sports activities amenities might stay open, members of public are suggested to watch the air high quality and take mandatory precautions to make sure private security when exercising outdoor. Basically, exercising outdoor must be decreased when air high quality is unhealthy.
Aged or pregnant individuals and individuals affected by continual lung illness / coronary heart illness, ought to keep away from outside publicity.
Individuals who usually are not feeling nicely ought to cease all sport actions and search medical consideration.
Members of public can proceed conserving match indoors with on-line sources accessible at https://www.activesgcircle.gov.sg/watch/way of life.
ActiveSG members might contact their nearest Sport Centre or discuss with advisory posters put up throughout this era on the Sport Centre and the ActiveSG Circle web site at https://www.activesgcircle.gov.sg/ for extra info.
Group Actions
14 All group actions can be guided by the 24-hour PSI forecast issued by NEA and the accompanying well being advisory. Members of the general public might want to stay indoors in periods of haze. Air-conditioned rooms in many of the Residents’ Committee (RC) Centres and Group Centres/Golf equipment (CCs) can be accessible for members of the general public who wish to search respite from the haze, ought to the 24-hour PSI cross into the Very Unhealthy vary (PSI > 200). Residents might contact their nearest CCs or discuss with RC Discover Boards for extra info on the closest accessible RCs/CCs.
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[1] Masks with related filtration functionality, for instance, the KF94 and KN95 masks
