Singapore's western region not in unhealthy, very unhealthy PSI range for first time since Oct 5新加坡西部地区自10月5日以来首次未进入不健康或非常不健康的PSI（空气污染指数）范围。
On the 18th day after air quality first entered the unhealthy and very unhealthy ranges in western Singapore, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) there has finally returned to the good-to-moderate range.Amid a spike in the number of hotspots — from 175 to 522 — in Kalimantan on Oct 4, Singapore has been recording PSI in the unhealthy to very...
On the 18th day after air quality first entered the unhealthy and very unhealthy ranges in western Singapore, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) there has finally returned to the good-to-moderate range.
Amid a spike in the number of hotspots — from 175 to 522 — in Kalimantan on Oct 4, Singapore has been recording PSI in the unhealthy to very unhealthy ranges since Oct 5.
And while hourly PM2.5 and PSI readings began improving in parts of the country from Oct 18, the western region continued to be an outlier due to the prevailing winds that brought in smoke haze from southern Sumatra.
The highest 24-hour PSI reading this haze season was 230 in the western region, recorded at 10am and 11am on Oct 18.
At 3pm on Thursday (Oct 22), the western PSI reading was in the moderate range (99), while its hourly PM2.5 readings was in the normal band (39µg/m3).
Elsewhere, hourly concentration readings have been in the normal band since midnight. PSI readings in these regions were in the moderate range.
Smoke haze may still affect Singapore
In its daily haze situation update on Wednesday evening , the National Environment Agency (NEA) cautioned that smoke haze may still hit Singapore on Thursday and Friday.
It pointed out that while showers are forecast over Singapore and the surrounding region, dry conditions are again expected over the southern parts of Kalimantan.
This, coupled with the prevailing east-southeasterly or south-easterly winds, means that smoke haze from fires in Kalimantan may be transported towards Singapore — with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) forecast to be between 101 and 160 — in the unhealthy range.
The situation is forecast to persist into Friday.
Members of the public should check the latest concentration readings before participating in any outdoor activities.
Second wave of N95 haze mask distribution
On Thursday, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu also announced that a second wave of mask distribution will begin on Friday , expanding eligibility to Singaporeans aged 60 and above.
They will be able to collect a second pack of two masks from community clubs (CCs) or mask vending machines from Oct 23.
Those eligible in the first wave, but have yet to collect their masks, can now collect four masks at any CC.
在新加坡西部空气质量首次进入不健康和非常不健康范围的第 18 天，当地的 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 终于恢复到良好至中等范围。
10 月 4 日，加里曼丹岛的疫情热点地区数量从 175 个激增至 522 个，而自 10 月 5 日以来，新加坡的 PSI 指数一直处于不健康到非常不健康的范围内。
虽然从 10 月 18 日起，该国部分地区的 PM2.5 和 PSI 小时读数开始改善，但由于盛行风将苏门答腊南部的烟雾带入西部地区，西部地区的情况仍然很特殊。
本雾霾季最高的 24 小时 PSI 读数是西部地区的 230，记录于 10 月 18 日上午 10 点和 11 点。
10 月 22 日星期四下午 3 点，西部空气污染指数 (PSI) 读数处于中等范围 (99)，而其每小时 PM2.5 读数处于正常范围 (39µg/m3)。
其他地区自午夜以来，每小时的浓度读数均处于正常范围内。这些地区的PSI读数处于中等水平。
烟雾仍可能影响新加坡
新加坡国家环境局 (NEA) 在周三晚间发布的每日雾霾情况更新中警告称，烟雾可能在周四和周五继续影响新加坡。
报告指出，虽然新加坡及其周边地区预计将有阵雨，但加里曼丹南部地区预计仍将保持干燥天气。
再加上盛行的东南偏东风或东南风，这意味着加里曼丹岛火灾产生的烟雾可能会被输送到新加坡——预计 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 将在 101 到 160 之间——处于不健康范围内。
预计这种情况将持续到周五。
公众在参加任何户外活动前，应查看最新的浓度读数。
第二波N95防雾霾口罩分发
周四，永续发展及环境部长傅海燕也宣布，第二波口罩发放活动将于周五开始，并将领取资格扩大到60岁及以上的新加坡公民。
从 10 月 23 日起，他们可以在社区俱乐部 (CC) 或口罩自动售货机领取第二包（两只）口罩。
第一批符合领取口罩资格但尚未领取口罩的人，现在可以在任何一家社区中心领取四个口罩。