Anti-pollution measures lifted in Skopje

Skopje, 28 December 2022 (MIA) – The recommendations and measures introduced due to rising air pollution in Skopje were lifted, including the free public transportation.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning said the concentration of PM10 particles in the capital Skopje were recorded below the defined alarm threshold, thus lifting the recommendations and measures in place since Saturday.

The PM10 particle concentration in the middle of the day was recorded at 150 micrograms per cubic meter in the consecutive days, the Ministry said citing data from the State Monitoring System for Air Quality.

The measures were introduced on Saturday in Skopje, Kichevo, Kavadarci and Strumica and in Gostivar on Sunday following a recommendation by the Environment Ministry. According to the measures, legal entities (employers) were recommended to release from work duties all pregnant women, people over 60, as well as people with chronic asthma, previous myocardial infarction or stroke, regardless of age, upon recommendation of a family doctor, and reorganize working hours to have people working outdoors to work from 11 am to 5 pm, recommend against organizing sports competitions and other outdoor cultural events and provide conditions for increased activities of emergency medical services and home visits.

In addition to introducing free public transportation, the City of Skopje also recommended increased emergency inspections of B installations under its jurisdictions, increased inspections of construction sites and frequent street cleaning.