Klang Valley residents can get face masks for free

Klang Valley residents can get N95 face masks for free at government health clinics and hospitals from today to brace themselves against the haze.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said one million face masks had been allocated for distribution to the public in areas where the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading exceeded 200.

"If the mask supply gets exhausted, its replenishment would depend on the stock left. As for now, we will distribute them until the haze situation improves," he told a news conference here today.

The air pollution level is categorised as hazardous when the reading is 301 or more; very unhealthy at 201 to 300; unhealthy at 101 to 200; moderate at 51 to 100 and good at zero to 50.

Subramaniam said face masks had been distributed to residents in Johor and Melaka through shopping complexes and schools and at public places as the air quality plummeted in the past few days.

Urging the public to cut down outdoor activities, he said, "If you have to go out, make sure you wear a face mask, drink at least eight glasses of water a day and avoid smoking."

He said the closure of schools and guidelines for students if the haze worsened would be decided at a Cabinet meeting on Friday based on recommendations from the Health Ministry and the Education Ministry.

"However, if the API reading exceeds 300, then schools must be closed to protect children's health," he said.