Singaporeans aged 60 and above can collect two free masks from Friday, 23 October, as the second round of haze mask distribution begins with a lower age threshold. CNA reported on Thursday that the cut-off has dropped from 67, with Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu confirming the change at Beo Crescent.
Who can collect
All Singaporeans aged 60 and above now qualify for two masks. The same round covers households on CHAS Orange and Blue cards, Medical Fee Exemption Card (MFEC) holders and ComCare recipients, and pregnant women, children aged 7 to 16 and people with conditions such as asthma.
People who collected in the first round can get two more masks. Those who missed the first round can collect masks for both rounds together at a community club.
Where to go
Masks are available at community clubs and at 37 designated vending machines. Pregnant women, children and people with medical conditions should go to a community club. A proxy may collect on behalf of an eligible person by bringing that person’s NRIC.
The masks include N95, KN95, FFP2 and KF94 types. Distribution started on 14 October, and 22 per cent of eligible people had collected by Thursday.
Masks in supermarkets
The Ministry of Health is restocking Sheng Siong, Giant and Cold Storage outlets with masks for sale, and FairPrice has masks on its shelves.
Subsidised clinic visits
Under the Ministry of Health’s Haze Subsidy Scheme, Singapore citizens aged 18 and below or 65 and above, and those holding a CHAS, Pioneer, Merdeka or MFEC card, pay no more than S$10 for treatment of haze-related conditions at participating Public Health Preparedness Clinics and polyclinics. Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors pay no more than S$5. Covered conditions include asthma, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, rhinitis and upper respiratory tract infections.
Participating clinics display a PHPC decal at the entrance.
Haze outlook for the weekend
The National Environment Agency’s update on Thursday put the 24-hour PSI at 71 to 96 at 6pm. NEA expects the 24-hour PSI on Friday to be between 101 and 150, in the unhealthy range.
On Saturday, smoke haze from Sumatra may be blown in by southeasterly or southerly winds, though showers could help. Conditions are expected to improve on Sunday.
