N95 masks are back on sale at every NTUC FairPrice outlet and at Guardian, Unity and Watsons pharmacies, after the Ministry of Health (MOH) released masks from its national stockpile to retailers on Tuesday (20 October). Cold Storage, Giant and Sheng Siong are being restocked so that all their outlets carry N95 or equivalent masks by the end of this week, the ministry told media. Their online stores also carry the masks.
The release follows a week of empty shelves. The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) flagged on Saturday (17 October) that some retailers had run out of N95 masks and air purifiers. MOH’s position is that retailers and pharmacies have enough stock in their warehouses, and that individual stores may still run low for a while as shelves are refilled. It has asked buyers to take only what their own household needs.
KN95, FFP2 and KF94 masks count as equivalents. All four standards filter at least 94 per cent of particles, and MOH treats them as effective against haze.
Free masks for vulnerable residents
Retail stock is separate from the free masks the Government began handing out on 14 October. CNA reported the eligibility on 15 October: Pioneer and Merdeka Generation members, CHAS Orange and Blue card holders, medical fee exemption card holders and ComCare recipients can collect one pack of two N95 masks at People’s Association community clubs or at vending machines in selected public transport hubs and Social Service Offices.
Pregnant women, children aged seven to 16 and people with medical conditions such as asthma collect at community clubs only. The vending machines scan the eligible person’s NRIC barcode, and a family member can collect on that person’s behalf with the same NRIC. GovTech’s HazeMaskGoWhere shows the nearest collection point and whether a machine has stock.
What the readings say today
The National Environment Agency forecast the 24-hour PSI for Thursday at 101 to 160, in the unhealthy range. Its Wednesday evening update put smoke haze from Kalimantan in Singapore’s vicinity, with east-southeasterly winds likely to carry more towards the island today and on Friday. From Saturday, winds are expected to shift, and haze from Sumatra may drift in instead.
At 5am on Thursday, the 1-hour PM2.5 readings were 29 to 39 µg/m³ across all five regions, in Band 1 (Normal). The 24-hour PSI ranged from 75 in the north to 114 in the west.
MOH’s advice is to plan the next hour by the 1-hour PM2.5 reading, not the 24-hour PSI. In Band 1, normal activity carries on. In Band 3 (151 to 250 µg/m³), vulnerable people should avoid outdoor activity and may wear an N95 mask if they have to be outside. In Band 4 (251 µg/m³ and above), healthy people should keep outdoor activity to a minimum, and a well-fitted N95 mask reduces exposure for those who must be out.
N95 masks are not needed for the commute between home and school or work, or indoors. Women in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy should not wear one for long periods, and people with severe heart or lung problems should see a doctor first.
A mask that is not soiled, damp, damaged or out of shape can be reused during the haze, but MOH advises against sharing one. Haze-related medical needs are subsidised under the Haze Subsidy Scheme at all polyclinics and participating Public Health Preparedness Clinics.
