Singaporeans mask up, cut back on outdoor activities as haze level hits season high

But others are continuing their normal activities, including turning up for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix and its activities.

People wearing masks in central Bishan as hazy conditions persisted on Oct 9, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos)

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SINGAPORE: Singaporeans are taking precautions such as wearing masks and cutting back on physical activities as air quality hits its worst levels so far this haze season.

But others carried on as usual on Friday (Oct 9), including turning up for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix and its activities.

Air quality across the island is in the unhealthy range, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index climbing to 192 in the central region at 5pm – the highest reading of this year's haze season.

REDUCING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Some schools and educational institutions have scaled back outdoor programmes in response to the worsening air quality.

At som e schools, PE lessons were cancelled and outdoor activitie s di scouraged.

Mr Arul Kumar, who was picking up his son from First Toa Payoh Primary School, told CNA that students were being asked to spend more time indoors and keep hydrated.

His son also shared with him that more of his classmates had been coughing and sneezing, and that more were wearing masks.

At the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (Primary), students have also been advised to stay away from the field during recess, said parent G eraldine Goh, who makes her daughter wear a mask to school every day.

Instead of the usual outdoor assembly, students had it in their classrooms on Friday, she added.

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Parents and students leaving Nan Hua Primary School at dismissal time on Oct 7, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Ang Hwee Min)

Over at Jurong Central Park, a two-hour activity involving around 100 students from the Institute of Technical Education was shortened to 45 minutes because of the haze.

Two lecturers supervising the students as they picked up rubbish with metal tongs decided to proceed, after checking the PSI readings and ensuring that guidelines were followed.

Others have made adjustments to their daily routines as the haze persists.

A t Jurong Lake Gardens, a retiree, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, said he was continuing his usual routine of jogging twice a day, but with some adjustments.

Instead of running his usual 5km at a stretch, he now breaks up his jogs, stopping to rest after every kilometre.

MASKS, AIR PURIFIERS IN DEMAND

More people have also been buying masks and air purifiers amid the haze.

A customer who only wanted to be known as Madam Tan bought a box of surgical masks as the ones she had at home, which she bought during the COVID-19 pandemic, had expired.

“I came out and felt a little bit of tearing so I bought some,” said the 73-year-old, who intends to wear a mask outdoors if the haze stays at this level or continues to worsen.

She said older people could be more vulnerable to the haze, particularly those with lung conditions, and that it was better to take precautions even if they were not experiencing any symptoms.

People exercising outside the National Stadium amid the haze on Oct 9, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

Mr Peter Wang went to a Best Denki outlet on Thursday intending to buy an air purifier. The 68-year-old was looking for one with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that can remove smaller particles in the air.

“You just get a little bit nervous when the reading goes up,” he said. “You’re smelling it. Once you smell it, you’d think it’s really bad.”

"LIFE AS PER NORMAL", F1 FESTIVITIES CONTINUE

While some people were taking extra precautions, others largely carried on with their usual routines.

Ms Pearlie Toh, who was waiting outside Nan Hua Primary School for her son, has yet to send him to school with a mask.

Her son, who is in Primary 3, has not complained of any breathing issues, but she will send him to school with a mask if the haze gets worse, she said.

“For now, life as per normal for us. I can feel it, it’s quite choking, it’s quite bad. I’m sure they’re looking at monitoring the situation,” the 40-year-old said.

F1 race-goers who were at Raffles City before the practice session began said the haze was a concern, but it would not stop them from attending the event.

Ms Yo ges Maran, 24, said she was “slightly” worried about the conditions, although she added that the haze she experienced in Sepang over the weekend was worse.

She said she would still attend the race despite the haze, but would consider wearing a mask and drinking more water.

Fans queue up to enter the Formula One Grand Prix with Marina Bay Sands clouded with haze in the background, Oct 9, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Alyssa Tan)

Ms Asyiqin Musta’win was also concerned, particularly as she had tickets and feared that the concerts would be cancelled.

Still, the 29-year-old said she planned to attend again on Saturday. “No matter what, I’ll still go and I still want to be there,” said the marketing professional.

Singapore GP said there are currently no plans for now to modify entertainment activities because of the haze , adding that it will continue to monitor weather conditions.

The Singapore Tourism Board told CNA on Thursday that it had contingency plans in place, with measures covering various 24-hour PSI and 1-hour PM2.5 levels.

"In the event that haze causes visibility, public health or operational issues, the relevant agencies will work closely with SGP (Singapore Grand Prix) to assess the situation before making any collective decisions regarding the event," said the agency.

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但其他人则继续进行正常的活动，包括参加一级方程式新加坡大奖赛及其相关活动。

2026年10月9日，碧山中心城区雾霾持续，人们戴着口罩。（图片：CNA/Marcus Mark Ramos）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：由于空气质量达到本雾霾季以来的最差水平，新加坡人正在采取佩戴口罩和减少体育活动等预防措施。

但其他人则在周五（10 月 9 日）照常进行活动，包括参加一级方程式新加坡大奖赛及其相关活动。

全岛空气质量处于不健康范围，下午 5 点，中部地区的 24 小时污染物标准指数攀升至 192，这是今年雾霾季节的最高读数。

减少户外活动

由于空气质量恶化，一些学校和教育机构缩减了户外活动项目。

一些学校取消了体育课，不鼓励户外活动。

当时正在第一大巴窑小学接儿子的阿鲁尔·库马尔先生告诉亚洲新闻台，学校要求学生们多待在室内，并保持水分充足。

他的儿子还告诉他，班里咳嗽和打喷嚏的人越来越多，戴口罩的人也越来越多。

据家长 Geraldine Goh 称，圣婴耶稣修道院小学也建议学生在课间休息时远离操场，她每天都让女儿戴着口罩去上学。

她补充说，学生们没有像往常一样在户外集会，而是在周五在教室里举行了集会。

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2026年10月7日，南华小学放学时，家长和学生们离开学校。（图片：CNA/Ang Hwee Min）

在裕廊中央公园，由于雾霾，一项原定持续两小时、约有 100 名来自工艺教育学院的学生参加的活动缩短至 45 分钟。

两名讲师在监督学生用金属钳捡拾垃圾时，检查了 PSI 读数并确保遵守了指导方针后，决定继续进行。

随着雾霾持续，其他人也调整了日常生活作息。

在裕廊湖花园，一位只愿透露姓氏为林的退休人士表示，他仍然保持着每天慢跑两次的习惯，但做了一些调整。

他不再像往常那样一口气跑 5 公里，而是把慢跑分成几段，每跑一公里就停下来休息。

口罩、空气净化器需求旺盛

雾霾期间，购买口罩和空气净化器的人数也有所增加。

一位只愿被称为谭女士的顾客购买了一盒医用口罩，因为她在新冠疫情期间购买的口罩已经过期了。

“我出来后感觉有点流泪，所以就买了一些口罩，”这位73岁的老人说。如果雾霾持续这种程度或继续恶化，他打算在户外戴口罩。

她说，老年人更容易受到雾霾的影响，尤其是那些患有肺部疾病的老年人，即使他们没有任何症状，最好也采取预防措施。

2026年10月9日，雾霾笼罩下，人们在国家体育场外锻炼。（图片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

彼得·王先生周四前往百仕奇电器（Best Denki）门店，打算购买一台空气净化器。这位68岁的老人想找一台带有高效微粒空气（HEPA）过滤器的空气净化器，这种过滤器可以去除空气中更小的颗粒物。

“读数上升的时候，你就会有点紧张，”他说。“你会闻到那股味道。一旦闻到，你就会觉得情况非常糟糕。”

“一切照常”，F1赛事庆祝活动继续进行

虽然有些人采取了额外的预防措施，但其他人则基本照常进行日常活动。

在南华小学外等候儿子的杜佩莉女士，还没有让儿子戴着口罩去上学。

她说，她的儿子目前就读小学三年级，还没有出现任何呼吸困难的情况，但如果雾霾情况恶化，她会让他戴着口罩去上学。

“目前，我们的生活一切如常。但我能感觉到，这让人很窒息，情况很糟糕。我相信他们正在密切关注事态发展，”这位40岁的男子说道。

在练习赛开始前身处莱佛士城的F1赛车观众表示，雾霾令人担忧，但这不会阻止他们参加比赛。

24岁的Yo ges Maran女士表示，她对目前的情况“略感”担忧，不过她补充说，周末在雪邦遇到的雾霾情况更严重。

她说，尽管有雾霾，她还是会去参加比赛，但会考虑戴口罩和多喝水。

2026年10月9日，车迷们排队进入一级方程式大奖赛现场，背景是笼罩在薄雾中的滨海湾金沙酒店。（图片：CNA/Alyssa Tan）

阿西金·穆斯塔温女士也感到担忧，尤其是因为她买了票，担心音乐会会被取消。

不过，这位29岁的女士表示，她计划周六再次参加。“无论如何，我都会去，我仍然想在那里，”这位市场营销专业人士说道。

新加坡大奖赛组委会表示，目前没有因雾霾而调整娱乐活动的计划，并补充说将继续关注天气状况。

新加坡旅游局周四告诉亚洲新闻台，他们已制定应急计划，措施涵盖各种 24 小时 PSI 和 1 小时 PM2.5 水平。

“如果雾霾导致能见度下降、公共卫生问题或运营问题，相关机构将与新加坡大奖赛密切合作，评估情况，然后再就赛事做出任何集体决定，”该机构表示。

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