BEIJING, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Beijing has issued its first red alert for air pollution this year, as a new bout of heavy smog is forecast to hit the city Friday, local environmental protection authorities said Thursday.

　　北京，12月15日，新华社电--据北京当地环保部门本周三表示说，他们已经发布了今年第一个空气污染红色警报，新一场大雾霾本周五即将涌入北京。

　　Approved by the municipal government, the red alert will be activated 8 p.m. Friday and is expected to be lifted on December 21 when the air quality in the city improves.

　　经北京市政府批准，这份红色预警将会从周五晚8点开始启动，预计将等到本月21日空气质量提高之后才取消。

　　China National Environmental Monitoring Center said during the period, Beijing and neighboring Tianjin Municipality and Hebei Province will suffer a heavy air pollution, which will also affect Shandong and Henan provinces.

　　据中国国家环境监测中心表示说，该期间北京、天津和河北将会遭遇严重的空气污染，山东和河南也会受到影响。

　　High polluting vehicles will be pulled off roads while other vehicles will be restricted based on an odd-or-even license plate rule.

　　高污染车辆将被禁止上路，而其他车辆也会单双号限行。

　　Construction sites will be shut down, certain factories closed and schools advised to suspend classes during the red alert.

　　在红色警报期间，建筑工地将会停工、工厂关门歇业、学校也建议停课。

　　According to an updated emergency response plan for severe air pollution released November, four consecutive days of heavy air pollution, including two days of severe air pollution, activate a red alert.

　　据11月份更新的一份空气严重污染紧急应对计划显示，对于连续四天以上的空气重污染，包括连续两天的空气严重污染，可以启动红色警报。

　　A red alert is also issued if the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches 500.

　　如果该城市的空气质量指数(AQI)达到了500，也可以启动红色警报。

（编辑：何莹莹）