Some retailers capping purchases of N95 masks as haze drives surge in demand

In stores, Guardian customers are limited to two boxes of surgical masks, and five pieces of N95 masks per person each day.

PHOTOS: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS

Published Oct 16, 2026, 03:30 PM

Updated Oct 16, 2026, 03:30 PM

SINGAPORE – N95 masks appear to be flying off the shelves, with at least two retailers limiting purchases amid the worsening haze situation in Singapore.

S ingapore has registered unhealthy 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings daily since Oct 5. This 12-day period is the longest continuous stretch of poor air quality here since the 2015 haze crisis.

On Oct 16, the PSI in the central region at 3pm stood at 229 , hitting a new high for 2026. Meanwhile, the highest PM2.5 reading this haze season was recorded at 3pm on Oct 14 in the western part of the island at 288.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, a spokesperson for Guardian pharmacy said on Oct 15 that it has seen a sharp increase in demand for all masks, including N95 masks, this week.

It has since introduced daily purchase limits across its outlets and online platforms.

Those shopping on its online portal and app are limited to two boxes of surgical masks, and one box of N95 masks per customer each day.

The spokesperson said Guardian will review these limits based on demand and stock levels, adding that demand varies across locations, and that stock availability may differ from store to store at any given time.

The retailer is “working closely with (its) suppliers and coordinating with the haze taskforce” to ensure masks remain available for purchase across its stores, the spokesperson added.

Checks by ST showed that masks that are designed to filter out fine airborne particles – such as N95, KN95, and KN94 masks – were sold out at several Guardian outlets across the island.

Surgical masks, which are designed to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets, were also not available at some of these outlets.

Pharmaceutical chain Watsons has not implemented any purchase limits on face masks.

“With additional stocks secured and replenishment expected across our stores and online channels next week, we will continue to assess demand and stock availability before considering any purchase restrictions,” it said on Oct 16, in response to queries from ST.

However, ST’s checks on Watsons’ online store on the afternoon of Oct 16 showed that at least 11 face mask listings – including KN95 masks – were marked as “sold out”.

Nine out of 10 of the top keyword searches on Watsons’ online store were related to face masks.

Calls to six Watsons outlets across Singapore went unanswered.

Watsons said on Oct 12 that it saw “high double-digit” percentage growth in demand for face masks week on week about a month ago.

Filter masks were also sold out at some Unity pharmacies, according to ST checks on the afternoon of Oct 16, with staff saying that stocks were moving fast.

In response to earlier media queries, a spokesperson for the FairPrice Group, which runs the Unity pharmacies, said on Oct 13 that it saw “a slight uptick” in demand for N95 masks at its FairPrice and Unity stores.

The spokesperson said the retailer is maintaining a steady flow of regular deliveries to meet demand.

A check on FairPrice’s online shop at about 2pm on Oct 16 showed that only one of the seven N95 mask listings was available. On the product listing, FairPrice said that it is restricting the purchase of masks to only one box per customer.

A keyword search for “N95” on second-hand marketplace platform Carousell displayed 320 search results at about 2pm on Oct 16, with at least 26 listings posted within the last 24 hours.

The highest priced listing, which offers a bulk pack of multiple boxes of N95 masks, was offered at $150.

The Straits Times has contacted Sheng Siong, FairPrice, and the Ministry of Health (MOH) for more information.

Government launches relief measures

Air quality in Singapore breached “unhealthy” levels on Sept 4 due to smoke haze, a first since October 2023.

Worsening air conditions have prompted the Government to launch new relief measures.

Community clubs (CCs) across Singapore on Oct 14 began distributing N95 masks to eligible Singaporeans , including Pioneer and Merdeka Generation seniors, lower-income families, pregnant women, children and asthma patients.

Mask vending machines are also being progressively deployed across the island, and will be available at 37 public transport hubs and social service offices.

MOH said that other masks equivalent to N95 are KN95, FFP2 and KF94 masks. These masks are effective in reducing exposure to haze particles, and their differing names reflect their respective national standards.

Air-conditioned rooms in more than 300 community clubs, and residents’ committee and residents’ network centres, have also been set up as haze shelters for the public to seek respite in.

Additional reporting by Ariel Quek and Shannon Kuan

Calista Wong is a journalist covering breaking news and current affairs at The Straits Times. She has a special interest in lifestyle and environment-related news.

在商店里，Guardian 的顾客每人每天限购两盒医用口罩和五个 N95 口罩。

图片来源：新明日报

发布于2026年10月16日下午3:30

更新于2026年10月16日下午3:30

新加坡——随着新加坡雾霾情况日益恶化，N95口罩似乎正在被抢购一空，至少有两家零售商限制了购买数量。

自 10 月 5 日以来，新加坡每天的 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 读数均不健康。这 12 天是自 2015 年雾霾危机以来，新加坡空气质量持续恶化时间最长的一次。

10月16日下午3点，中部地区的空气污染指数（PSI）达到229，创下2026年新高。与此同时，本雾霾季PM2.5最高读数于10月14日下午3点在岛屿西部地区记录到，为288。

针对《海峡时报》的询问，Guardian药房的一位发言人于10月15日表示，本周所有口罩（包括N95口罩）的需求都出现了急剧增长。

此后，该公司在其所有门店和线上平台都实行了每日购买限额。

通过其在线门户网站和应用程序购物的顾客每天限购两盒医用口罩和一盒N95口罩。

发言人表示，Guardian 将根据需求和库存水平审查这些限制，并补充说，不同地区的需求各不相同，而且在任何特定时间，不同商店的库存情况也可能有所不同。

该零售商发言人补充说，他们正在“与供应商密切合作，并与雾霾工作组协调”，以确保其所有门店都能买到口罩。

《海峡时报》的调查显示，用于过滤空气中细小颗粒的口罩（如 N95、KN95 和 KN94 口罩）在全岛多家 Guardian 门店均已售罄。

在这些商店中，也有一些没有医用口罩出售，而医用口罩是防止呼吸道飞沫传播的。

屈臣氏连锁药店并未对口罩实施任何限购措施。

“随着更多库存的到位，预计下周我们的门店和线上渠道将进行补货，我们将继续评估需求和库存情况，然后再考虑任何购买限制，”该公司在 10 月 16 日回复《海峡时报》的询问时表示。

然而，《海峡时报》10月16日下午对屈臣氏网上商店的检查显示，至少有11款口罩（包括KN95口罩）被标记为“售罄”。

屈臣氏网上商店十大热门关键词搜索中有九个与口罩相关。

致电新加坡各地六家屈臣氏门店均无人接听。

屈臣氏在 10 月 12 日表示，大约一个月前，其口罩需求量每周都实现了“两位数”的百分比增长。

据《海峡时报》10月16日下午的调查显示，部分Unity药房的过滤口罩也已售罄，工作人员表示库存周转很快。

针对早前媒体的询问，经营 Unity 药房的 FairPrice 集团的一位发言人于 10 月 13 日表示，其 FairPrice 和 Unity 门店对 N95 口罩的需求“略有上升”。

发言人表示，该零售商正在保持稳定的定期供货，以满足市场需求。

10月16日下午2点左右，记者查看了FairPrice的网上商店，发现七款N95口罩中只有一款有货。该商品页面上显示，FairPrice限制每位顾客限购一盒口罩。

10 月 16 日下午 2 点左右，在二手交易平台 Carousell 上搜索关键词“N95”，显示了 320 个搜索结果，其中至少有 26 个商品信息是在过去 24 小时内发布的。

价格最高的商品是多盒 N95 口罩的大包装，售价为 150 美元。

《海峡时报》已联系昇菘超市、职总平价超市和卫生部，以获取更多信息。

政府推出救济措施

9月4日，新加坡空气质量因烟雾而突破“不健康”级别，这是自2023年10月以来的首次。

空气质量恶化促使政府推出新的缓解措施。

10 月 14 日，新加坡各地的民众俱乐部开始向符合条件的新加坡人分发 N95 口罩，其中包括建国一代和独立一代的老年人、低收入家庭、孕妇、儿童和哮喘患者。

口罩自动售货机也正在全岛逐步部署，将在 37 个公共交通枢纽和社会服务办公室提供。

卫生部表示，与N95口罩效果相当的其他口罩包括KN95、FFP2和KF94口罩。这些口罩都能有效减少吸入雾霾颗粒，它们不同的名称反映了各自符合的国家标准。

300 多个社区俱乐部、居民委员会和居民网络中心也设立了空调房间，作为雾霾避难所供公众休憩。

Ariel Quek 和 Shannon Kuan 亦有报道

卡莉斯塔·王是《海峡时报》的一名记者，负责报道突发新闻和时事。她尤其关注生活方式和环境相关的新闻。