GEORGE TOWN: All lectures, tutorials and outdoor activities at Universiti Sains Malaysia's (USM) main campus in Minden, here, have been cancelled following the worsening haze.
As of 1pm, the Air Pollutant Index (API) in Minden was at a very unhealthy level at 223 while Balik Pulau recorded an even higher API at 253.
The API reading at Seberang Jaya and Seberang Prai on the mainland was at 172 and 180 respectively.
USM, in its Facebook page, said office operations, however, continued as usual.
"All students and staff are urged to abide by the university's haze management standard operating procedure."
Earlier today, all schools on the island were ordered to close after the API breached the very unhealthy level.
In the southwest district, a total 51 schools were affected, while in the northeast district, 11 schools.
An announcement on the closure was made using the speakers at Masjid Jamek Sungai Rusa in Balik Pulau.
Meanwhile, three flights heading to Penang were diverted due to low visibility at the Penang International Airport.
Today is the first for Penang hitting very unhealthy API levels since the haze made a nationwide comeback.
State Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the order for closure of schools in the southwest district was issued at 7.20am today.
"As for schools in the northeast district, they were closed from noon onwards.
"We are monitoring the situation closely and doing the needful," he said.
Khazani Bahrom, 43, said that he initially did not want to send his 10-year-old son Muhammad Haziq to school as the haze showed no signs of abating since yesterday.
“Even I had breathing difficulties. But, I did not want my kid to be left behind in his studies.
“Hours after I dropped him, I was alerted through WhatsApp that schools were told to close,” he told the New Straits Times when met outside Sekolah Kebangsaan Dato Keramat, here.
Many parents were also seen putting on face masks for their children before they were taken home.
Checks by the NST at several pharmacies around George Town also found that the KN95 masks were sold out.
A sales representative from Boon Pharmacy here said the masks were sold out earlier today.
She said the sale of the masks had spiked since yesterday.
“We have informed our supplier and hopefully we can get the KN95 masks soon,” she said.
API readings are categorised as good for between 0 and 50, moderate for between 51 and 100, unhealthy for between 101 and 200, very unhealthy between 201 and 300 and hazardous if more than 301.