Where have all the people gone? From restaurants to running tracks, Singapore adjusts outdoor activities as haze bites

SINGAPORE, Sept 5 — Businesses, sports organisations and healthcare providers in Singapore are adjusting their activities as haze pushes air quality into the unhealthy range in parts of the city-state, while most operations continue as normal for now.

Human resources professional Desmond Ng shortened an outing with his daughter to less than three hours on Friday because of the air quality, The Straits Times reported today.

“Even if we go out, definitely not outdoor (activities). It’ll just be to run errands,” the 37-year-old told the Singapore-based newspaper. 

Restaurants in the Central Business District were still serving customers outdoors, but some were preparing to move diners inside if conditions worsened.

At Jypsy, manager Catherine Chua said some customers had been asking for indoor seating and the restaurant was considering adding more air circulators and fans to its outdoor dining area.

“If the haze worsens, depending on how the guests react, we might maximise more indoor (seating),” she said.

Brewerkz’s outlet at One Fullerton also remained open outdoors, with manager Lotus Deganos saying staff could be asked to wear masks if they were affected by the air quality.

Sports organisations are likewise preparing to scale back outdoor activities if the haze worsens.

Singapore Athletics said its track and field Age Group Championships would proceed as planned, but races of 1,500 metres and above and race-walking events could be cancelled if the one-hour PM2.5 reading exceeds 100.

The Singapore Rugby Union and Singapore Baseball and Softball Association said they would also consider changes to match formats and outdoor training.

The 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in central Singapore reached 120 last night after crossing into the unhealthy range that morning, while the eastern region recorded 102.

The National Environment Agency advises the public to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities when the PSI is between 101 and 200.

Healthcare provider Ren Ci said it would closely monitor vulnerable elderly patients and reduce outdoor activities, while making N95 masks available if needed.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also advised pet owners to limit the intensity and duration of outdoor activities for their animals and keep them well hydrated.