Singapore schools in emergency shutdown as air quality worsens

SINGAPORE: Singapore late Thursday ordered emergency school closures as air pollution reached “hazardous” levels due to suffocating smoke from agricultural fires raging on a nearby Indonesian island.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also said face masks will be distributed at community centers across the island on Friday for needy and elderly citizens.
“There is no national shutdown of work, but employers should not compromise on the health and safety of their employees, especially those working outdoors,” Lee said in a Facebook post.“Please drink plenty of water, and avoid going outdoors if you can. Look out for neighbors and friends, and stay safe.”
Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said the shutdown order for Friday will affect primary and secondary schools as well as kindergartens run by the ministry and special education schools.
Parents who cannot make alternative arrangements because of the short notice can still send their children to school, where they will be placed in air-conditioned rooms, he said. Singapore’s air quality steadily worsened during the day as thick smog blown in from forest fires on Indonesia’s neighboring island of Sumatra bore down on the city-state, which prides itself on its clean environment.
There were fewer people outdoors despite Thursday being a public holiday and more residents were seen wearing face masks.
Fastfood chains McDonald’s and Pizza Hut suspended delivery service.