Second round of haze mask distribution starts Friday, eligibility expanded to seniors aged 60 and above

Singaporeans who did not collect masks in the first round can pick up both batches at once from community clubs or designated vending machines.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu speaks to the media at Beo Crescent food centre after handing out masks and refreshments to hawkers on Oct 22, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

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SINGAPORE: A second round of haze mask distribution begins on Friday (Oct 23), with more seniors now eligible, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Thursday.

All Singaporeans aged 60 and above will be eligible to collect two masks, with the age threshold for seniors lowered from 67.

People who collected masks in the first round can collect another two. Those who were eligible earlier but did not collect their masks can receive both rounds at once at any community club (CC) or designated vending machine.

Speaking to reporters at Beo Crescent Market, Ms Fu said the government had heard from seniors above 60 who were not Pioneer Generation or Merdeka Generation cardholders and also needed the masks.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less "We agree with them. So we are extending this to all Singapore seniors above 60 years of age," she said. Other groups eligible for the masks include: CHAS Orange and Blue cardholders, Medical Fee Exemption Card holders and recipients of ComCare Assistance. Pregnant women, children aged seven to 16 and people with medical conditions such as asthma can collect masks at CCs. Eligible Singaporeans may ask a family member or friend to collect masks on their behalf, using the eligible person’s NRIC. The government-issued haze masks include N95, KN95, FFP2 and KF94 masks, all of which help reduce exposure to haze particles. Ms Fu also urged people to look out for those who may need extra help during the haze, citing elderly residents who may have difficulty collecting masks, as well as self-employed workers such as hawkers and delivery riders.

"We agree with them. So we are extending this to all Singapore seniors above 60 years of age," she said.

Other groups eligible for the masks include: CHAS Orange and Blue cardholders, Medical Fee Exemption Card holders and recipients of ComCare Assistance.

Pregnant women, children aged seven to 16 and people with medical conditions such as asthma can collect masks at CCs.

Eligible Singaporeans may ask a family member or friend to collect masks on their behalf, using the eligible person’s NRIC.

The government-issued haze masks include N95, KN95, FFP2 and KF94 masks, all of which help reduce exposure to haze particles.

Ms Fu also urged people to look out for those who may need extra help during the haze, citing elderly residents who may have difficulty collecting masks, as well as self-employed workers such as hawkers and delivery riders.

An elderly woman wearing a mask at the Beo Crescent market and food centre, Oct 22, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

BE PREPARED FOR AIR QUALITY TO DETERIORATE

About 22 per cent of eligible Singaporeans have collected the masks so far, according to the haze task force. With air quality improving, Ms Fu encouraged those who have not done so to collect them before conditions worsen again.

"The haze situation has improved over the last few days. However, the health of our people remains our top priority," she said, adding that Singaporeans should stay prepared for another deterioration in air quality.

She also addressed concerns over mask availability after some retail shelves were found empty. She said the Ministry of Health will draw on its national inventory to help restock supplies at Sheng Siong, Giant and Cold Storage. FairPrice Group has masks available in stores and online, she added.

"So no need to panic. There are always masks available, and we just need to give the retailers some time to replenish their shelves," Ms Fu said.

Air quality across Singapore has improved, with hourly PM2.5 readings in the normal range across all regions as of 1pm on Thursday.

This follows a sharp deterioration earlier in the month. On Oct 14, the hourly PM2.5 reading in the west hit 288, the highest in Singapore since 2015. The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index in the west reached 230 on Oct 18, the highest islandwide reading this year.

At a press conference on the haze situation on Oct 16 , Ms Fu warned that air quality could reach hazardous levels. She said the situation remained fluid and depended on weather conditions, adding that the haze could last for another three to four weeks.

The government began distributing N95 masks on Oct 14 at all community clubs. A total of 37 vending machines dispensing free N95 masks to eligible Singaporeans were also deployed islandwide.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu (centre) and Jalan Besar MP Wan Rizal (right) greet a hawker at the Beo Crescent market and food centre while handing out a goodie bag with masks and refreshments, Oct 22, 2026. (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)

IMPACT ON BUSINESSES

Some food and beverage operators told CNA that sales had fallen by as much as 70 per cent as fewer customers ventured out, while staffing pressures had mounted. Some have called for government support, including rental relief.

At Jurong West Hawker Centre, some stallholders said last Sunday that business had fallen by about half . One stall reported losing as much as 80 per cent of its weekend business.

Ms Fu said her visit to Beo Crescent Market was partly to understand how hawkers had been affected.

Feedback was mixed, she said, with some reporting an impact on business, others saying business was about the same and some seeing more takeaway orders.

"We will collate all the feedback and make a decision on whether extra help is needed," she said. "But we are always here for Singaporeans, so I think Singaporeans can be assured of that."

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第一轮没有领取口罩的新加坡人可以一次性从民众俱乐部或指定自动售货机领取两批口罩。

2026年10月22日，永续发展及环境部长傅海燕在碧瑶弯美食中心向小贩分发口罩和茶点后接受媒体采访。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

这段音频是由人工智能工具生成的。

新加坡：永续发展及环境部长傅海燕周四表示，第二轮雾霾口罩发放将于周五（10月23日）开始，更多老年人符合领取资格。

所有 60 岁及以上的新加坡公民均有资格领取两个口罩，老年人的年龄门槛已从 67 岁降低。

第一轮领取过口罩的人可以再领取两个。之前符合领取资格但未领取口罩的人，可以前往任何社区俱乐部或指定自动售货机一次性领取两轮发放的口罩。

傅女士在碧瑶新月市场接受记者采访时表示，政府已收到一些60岁以上、非建国一代或独立一代卡持有者的老年人的反馈，他们也需要口罩。

CNA游戏猜词游戏：逐行破解单词；流行词游戏：用给定的字母组成单词；迷你数独：小巧的谜题，强大的脑力挑战；迷你填字游戏：小方格，大挑战；单词搜索：尽可能多地找出单词。显示更多 显示更少 “我们同意他们的观点。因此，我们将这项福利扩大到所有60岁以上的新加坡长者，”她说。其他符合领取口罩资格的群体包括：社区健康援助计划（CHAS）橙色卡和蓝色卡持有者、医疗费用豁免卡持有者以及社区关怀援助（ComCare Assistance）受益人。孕妇、7至16岁的儿童以及患有哮喘等疾病的人士可在民众俱乐部（CC）领取口罩。符合资格的新加坡公民可委托家人或朋友代领口罩，代领时需提供其身份证号码（NRIC）。政府发放的防雾霾口罩包括N95、KN95、FFP2和KF94口罩，所有这些口罩都有助于减少接触雾霾颗粒。傅女士还呼吁人们在雾霾期间关注那些可能需要额外帮助的人，例如可能难以领取口罩的老年居民，以及小贩和外卖员等自雇人士。

“我们同意他们的观点。因此，我们将这项政策扩大到所有60岁以上的新加坡老年人，”她说。

其他有资格领取口罩的群体包括：CHAS 橙色和蓝色卡持有者、医疗费用豁免卡持有者以及 ComCare 援助的受益人。

孕妇、7至16岁的儿童以及患有哮喘等疾病的人可以在社区中心领取口罩。

符合资格的新加坡公民可以请家人或朋友代为领取口罩，并出示符合资格人士的身份证号码。

政府发放的防霾口罩包括 N95、KN95、FFP2 和 KF94 口罩，所有这些口罩都有助于减少接触雾霾颗粒。

傅女士还呼吁人们在雾霾期间关注那些可能需要额外帮助的人，例如可能难以领取口罩的老年居民，以及小贩和外卖员等自雇人士。

2026年10月22日，一位戴着口罩的老妇人在碧瑶弯巴刹与熟食中心。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

做好空气质量恶化的准备

据雾霾工作组统计，目前约有22%的符合资格的新加坡人领取了口罩。随着空气质量的改善，傅海燕女士鼓励尚未领取口罩的民众尽快领取，以免情况再次恶化。

“过去几天雾霾情况有所改善。但是，人民的健康仍然是我们的首要任务，”她说道，并补充说，新加坡人应该做好空气质量再次恶化的准备。

她还回应了部分零售货架空空如也引发的口罩供应问题。她说，卫生部将动用国家库存，帮助昇菘超市、巨人超市和冷藏超市补充口罩供应。她补充说，职总平价集团的门店和线上商店均有口罩出售。

“所以大家不必恐慌。口罩供应一直都很充足，我们只需要给零售商一些时间来补货，”傅女士说。

截至周四下午 1 点，新加坡各地空气质量有所改善，所有地区的 PM2.5 小时读数均在正常范围内。

此前，新加坡空气质量在本月初急剧恶化。10月14日，西部地区的PM2.5小时浓度达到288，为新加坡自2015年以来的最高值。10月18日，西部地区的24小时污染物标准指数达到230，为今年全岛最高值。

10月16日，傅海燕女士在就雾霾情况举行的新闻发布会上警告说，空气质量可能达到危险水平。她表示，情况仍瞬息万变，取决于天气状况，并补充说，雾霾可能还会持续三到四周。

政府于10月14日开始在所有民众俱乐部分发N95口罩。此外，全岛还部署了37台自动售货机，向符合条件的新加坡公民免费发放N95口罩。

2026年10月22日，永续发展及环境部长傅海燕（中）和惹兰勿刹国会议员万黎刹（右）在碧瑶弯巴刹与熟食中心向小贩致意，并分发装有口罩和茶点的礼品袋。（图片：CNA/Wallace Woon）

对企业的影响

一些餐饮经营者告诉亚洲新闻台（CNA），由于外出就餐的顾客减少，销售额下降了多达70%，同时员工压力也越来越大。一些经营者呼吁政府提供支持，包括减免租金。

裕廊西小贩中心的一些摊贩上周日表示，生意下降了约一半。其中一个摊位称，周末生意损失高达80%。

傅女士表示，她此次前往碧瑶新月街市的部分原因是想了解小贩们受到的影响。

她说，反馈褒贬不一，一些人表示生意受到了影响，另一些人表示生意基本保持不变，还有一些人表示外卖订单增加了。

“我们会汇总所有反馈意见，并决定是否需要提供额外帮助，”她说。“但我们始终与新加坡人民站在一起，所以我相信新加坡人民可以对此放心。”

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