Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) said Oct. 20 it had drawn on its N95 mask stockpile to help retailers meet haze-related demand, while warehouse supplies remained sufficient overall.
MOH said individual stores could temporarily run low while restocking. The Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) separately reported temporary shortages at some outlets but said major retailers had enough masks overall and were replenishing affected stores.
MOH said N95 or equivalent masks were available at NTUC FairPrice stores and Guardian, Unity and Watsons pharmacies. By the end of the week, the ministry plans to extend sales of those masks in stages to every Cold Storage, Giant and Sheng Siong outlet.
The ministry urged shoppers to buy only what they need to avoid waste. Its haze guidance says N95 masks are unnecessary for commuting or indoor use. Singapore has also advised employers to adjust outdoor work according to hourly PM2.5 readings.
The government began distributing N95 masks in phases to vulnerable residents Oct. 14 after PM2.5 readings reached the “Very High” range. The National Environment Agency (NEA) said smoke from fires in Kalimantan was drifting toward Singapore. In its Oct. 20 update, NEA forecast a 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index of 110 to 180, in the “Unhealthy” range, for Oct. 21.
