SINGAPORE - Schools in Singapore will close on Friday (Sept 25) due to the worsening haze conditions.
The 3-hour PSI level had crossed the hazardous mark of 316 at 9pm, while the 24-hour PSI reading for Singapore was between 219-270.
Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said in a Channel NewsAsia report that the decision to close primary and secondary schools was made as a precaution. He added that "due to the late notice, parents who are unable to make alternative care arrangements can continue to send their children to school."
He also said that the GCE 'O' level practical examination for Music, that was to be held on Friday, will be rescheduled to Tuesday, Sept 29.
Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin posted on his Facebook page that "all lessons and programmed in childcare centres and kindergartens will be scaled down". However, "all childcare centres and kindergartens will remain open to provide custodial care for parents who do not have alternative care arrangements."
Please share with other parents.As the haze situation is worsening, all lessons and programmed in childcare centres...
Posted by Tan Chuan-Jin on Thursday, 24 September 2015
Other than schools, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that "Public Transport Operators will activate their haze management plans if the situation worsens".
If visibility is poor, the speed of the above ground MRT trains may be reduced as a precaution. This is currently done along the stretch between Admiralty and Marsiling stations with a slight increase in journey time, said the LTA statement.
SBST and SMRT have also issued N95 masks to their bus captains for their use if necessary, and have reminded them to drive at a safe speed when visibility is poor and advised to switch on their bus headlights when driving.
In addition, LTA's Intelligent Transport System Control (ITSC) Centre is monitoring the visibility on roads closely and putting up advisories where necessary to alert motorists to drive carefully.
The Singapore Sports Hub said on its social media that all its venues, except the Kallang Wave Mall, Museum, and Library, will be closed to the public.
Delivery food outlets McDonald's, KFC and Pizza Hut also posted on their social media that they have suspended their delivery service till further notice due to the haze conditions.
spanaech@sph.com.sg