Wear medical masks, advises Dr Annuar

SIBU: Assistant Minister of Housing and Public Health Dr Annuar Rapaee advised those with respiratory problems to put on medical masks following unhealthy air quality in some parts of Sarawak.

“Those who are prone to asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should wear medical masks,” Dr Annuar who is also Assistant Minister of Education and Technological Research said yesterday.

Mukah recorded unhealthy air pollutant index (API) of 140 as of 1pm yesterday.

According to the Department of Environment ( DOE) website, the Division recorded unhealthy readings since Aug 15 with the highest API of 146 recorded at 5am yesterday morning, before dropping to 135 at 5pm yesterday.

Sibu recorded the highest API of 128 between 9pm and 10pm on Aug 15. It dropped to 92 at 1pm yesterday before rising to 94 at 5pm despite some rain.

The API guide set by the DOE quantifies a reading of 0- 50 as ‘healthy’, 51-100 as ‘moderate’, 101200 as ‘unhealthy’, 201-300 as ‘very unhealthy’, and 301 and above as ‘hazardous’.

Meanwhile, Sibu recorded 25 cases of grass, bush, forest and garbage fires between Aug 1 and 15. Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department director Nor Hisham Mohammad reminded the public not to do any open burning in view of the current hot and dry weather.