Free N95 masks are now being handed out over the counter at 113 community clubs, with every collection point mapped on the government’s HazeMaskGoWhere locator. The People’s Association (PA) counters opened as Singapore’s air stayed in the Unhealthy range across all five regions on Thursday, 15 October.
At 5pm, NEA’s 24-hour PSI stood at 188 in the west, 186 in the central region, 161 in the east, 156 in the south and 122 in the north. The 1-hour PM2.5 reading in the central region was 205 µg/m³ at the same hour, in Band 3 (High). The west’s 24-hour PSI peaked at 212 at noon before easing below 200 by 3pm.
Who can collect
Six groups can collect at CC counters or at the haze mask vending machines:
- Pioneer Generation
- Merdeka Generation
- CHAS Orange card holders
- CHAS Blue card holders
- Medical Fee Exemption Card holders
- ComCare Assistance recipients
Three more groups can collect only at CCs, where staff verify eligibility in person: pregnant women, children aged 7 to 16, and people with medical conditions such as asthma. Smaller masks for children are available only at PA venues, not from the machines.
Each eligible person gets one pack of two N95 masks. The cap covers every channel, including packs from grassroots leaders. Our earlier explainer on who qualifies covers why the scheme targets these groups.
What to bring
Bring your NRIC. A family member or friend can collect on your behalf with your NRIC.
Pregnant women need proof of pregnancy, such as an antenatal appointment card, maternity health booklet, medical memo or digital appointment record from a healthcare institution. People with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or chronic respiratory disease can show a medical appointment card, medical memo or medication record. Anyone without documents makes a self-declaration at the counter.
Collection hours
Most CC counters run from 10am to 6pm daily. Thirteen CCs open from 2pm to 6pm daily. The vending machines run 24 hours.
At a vending machine, you scan the NRIC barcode, and the machine dispenses a pack of two adult masks once eligibility is confirmed. NRIC details are not stored on the machine. For a faulty machine, the hotline is 6727 5594, staffed from 8.30am to 8.30pm.
Using HazeMaskGoWhere
Type a postal code or street name into the search bar and the site maps the nearest CCs and vending machines on a map. Each entry shows the address, phone number and opening hours. You can filter by region, by collection option (CC counter or vending machine), by machine status, and by stock level: Stocks Available, Limited Stocks Available or Out of Stock.
Stock arrives in phases, so masks may not be at every location straight away. If one machine is empty or out of order, the nearest CC or another machine will serve you.
Today’s health advice
NEA forecasts the 24-hour PSI in the Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy range. Where the 1-hour PM2.5 reading is in Band 3 (High), as in the central region at 5pm, healthy people should avoid strenuous outdoor activity for the next hour. The elderly, pregnant women and children should avoid all outdoor activity for the next hour, as should people with chronic lung or heart disease.
If the 24-hour PSI reaches Very Unhealthy, healthy people should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion, the elderly, pregnant women and children should minimise outdoor activity, and people with chronic lung or heart disease should avoid it.
