The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) on Monday (Oct 12) announced that it is stepping up haze preparedness measures across mosques, madrasahs and mosque-based kindergartens.
These measures — should haze conditions worsen — are aligned with the next tier of action plans and advisories announced by the Government's Haze Task Force since Friday, MUIS said.
MUIS said mosques will remain open for daily and Friday congregational prayers, with appropriate measures in place.
However, should the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) enter the very unhealthy range (201 to 300), mosques will suspend non-essential outdoor programmes and activities.
They will also adjust prayer arrangements according to the prevailing haze conditions, available indoor facilities and national health advisories.
MUIS said that all mosques have been issued with haze preparedness guidelines covering precautionary measures across different PSI levels, with additional measures put in place to safeguard congregants, especially the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.
Elderly congregants and those with pre-existing health conditions are advised to take additional precautions, including wearing suitable masks when attending prayers, in line with prevailing national health advisories, MUIS added.
According to the National Environment Agency's outdoor activities planning guide, healthy persons should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion should PSI enter the very unhealthy range.
Meanwhile, elderly persons, pregnant women and children should minimise such activity, while persons with chronic lung and/or heart disease should avoid outdoor activities.
The measures will also extend to madrasahs and mosque-based kindergartens, which have been advised to follow haze-related guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education and the Early Childhood Development Agency.
These include limiting or modifying outdoor activities, making suitable indoor arrangements and keeping a close watch on the health of students and staff.
Parents will be notified of any changes to school activities or arrangements, if needed.
MUIS said it will continue to assess the haze situation and coordinate with relevant Government agencies to adjust its measures according to changing conditions and national health advisories.
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