anrcaccount

Again, the same single official quoted... If it was a mandate, PT operators and airlines would be enforcing it, they would have to. There is no mandate.

What will it take for you to admit it's not a mandate? It's OK to be wrong, I often am!! BTS/ MRT, airlines not enforcing masks and wearing becoming less common each day. The announcements on BTS/MRT clearly state it's only recommended. The "announcement" you refer to was single interview by one health official. There is no mandate. It's important that is understood.

So you accept there's no mask mandate, including on publics transports and cinemas? Masking is simply a recommendation now from the health department, in the same vein as "eat more vegetables" and " do not smoke tobacco or drink too much alcohol?"

For you it might be health, for the vast majority of Thais it's not, it's just conformance. It’s "not wanting to face the stares of other Thais." In areas with tourists this conformity rapidly falls away. Another poster summarise this well- "If people genuinely believe they help and are free to choose then go for it. But the absurdity is real when you see people masked up outdoors and then quickly removing them to go into a crowded indoor cafe/restaurant and leave them off for hours only to put them back on to go outdoors. It’s absurd. But sure if people want to do it that’s fine. It’s unwelcoming and it deprives the place of much basic human connection" It's damaging communication, social interaction. It's unusual because (with a rapidly diminishing number of exceptions) it's not happening anywhere else in the world. Thais travelling and living overseas don't mask up, but when back in Thailand do. It's absurd , and for the vast majority, not being done for health reasons.

Great post. The fact, is the major reason is some unusual kind of social conformance, which is absurd now. Health is not the reason. It needs to stop, or at the least reduce to certain settings then stop. It's really damaging a country that was literally known as the land of smiles.

No, they are not mandatory in airports or on airlines.

WFTP applicants do not qualify for, or require, work permits. WFTP is for working for foreign companies. Work permits only for working for Thai companies. Work permits are for Highly Skilled Professional categories. Dependants of other categories are apparently allowed to apply for work permits if they get employment in Thailand.

I can see you want this to be true, but it is very much looking like a poor translation. If it was true and a real mandate , airlines and the BTS would be enforcing it (as they were previously) - neither of them are. https://www.thaiairways.com/en_GB/plan/travel_information/making-your-travels-safer.page#:~:text=Face masks are not compulsory,the one you are wearing. As for Cinemas, what a strange single indoor venue to single out. Again, there is no mask mandate law in Thailand.

It's not a law, it's not a mandate. It's a recommendation from one health official.

So now you acknowledge this is not necessarily a mandate, and at best "reported government policy" There is no mandate on PT and cinemas. Mandates require a law. It looks like a poorly translated recommendation statement of a single official, widely reported. Only time will tell though, as they say - this is Thailand!

As I said on another thread this single news report( picked up by multiple outlets) and statement from one health official is the only evidence of the official terms a "mandate". I'm not confident this mandate actually exists and there's plenty of government messaging clearly stating masks are not mandated, by the government, anywhere in Thailand. It contradicts previous advice by multiple government sources. It also contradicts what the PT operators themselves are saying. Singling out a single indoor venue like cinemas also makes no sense, especially since you eat/drink in them. If they were mandatory on public transport, airlines would be enforcing them, which they are not. I do not believe this is an actual mandate law.

Good on you. As difficult it it might seem to point out the absurdity, the more this is done, the sooner it ends. Bringing it up and talking about it is the only way.

the mask wearing by Thais is not based on common sense. Helmet wearing, would save many many many more lives than masks ever have.

Excellent comment, spot on. If I can restate your 3 main points as they're so very accurate: The way mask wearing is done in Thailand is absurd. It's not done for health but for social conformity. It deprives people of human connection.

Fair.

Its the same report of the same statement, picked up in multiple places. It contradicts previous advice by multiple government sources. It also contradicts what the PT operators themselves are saying. Singling out a single indoor venue like cinemas also makes no sense, especially since you eat/drink in them. If they were mandatory on public transport, airlines would be enforcing them, which they are not. I do not believe this is an actual mandate law.

This single news report and statement from one health official is the only evidence of what you term a mandate. I'm not confident this mandate actually exists and there's plenty of government messaging clearly stating masks are not mandated, by the government, anywhere in Thailand. Regardless, from now on you'll see a steady decrease in mask wearing in Thailand.

So you'll never leave Thailand again? Everywhere else in the world outside China, you're going to have a problem. Even China is likely to ditch the masks when they drop zero Covid.

Children should not be wearing permanent face coverings, stunting their ability to learn and communicate, in order to possibly/slightly reduce transmission of an established virus they are in no danger from. Vaccination of this age group confers a questionable benefit in terms of reduction of severe illness, and we all know now does almost nothing to reduce transmission. Here, I agree with you that more should be done to ensure the elderly, who are making up the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths, are boosted and up to date. Nothing would make more difference than this. But masking children, to protect elderly who won't protect themselves , is not a useful response. The health response should focus on the vulnerable individuals, the time for public measures is over.

This is in direct breach of the recommendations and shouldn't be allowed. However these things will take time to come back to normal. Normal does not equal children wearing masks.

Absolutely wonderful news for the children and teachers!!! The land of smiles is coming back... "From Saturday, face-mask wearing all the time in schools, seat distancing of 1-2 metres, limits on the number o participants in group activities, the provision of additional hand cleaning facilities and daily disinfecting of classrooms, toilets and frequently touched will cease."

Spot on. An affirmative statement that masks are no longer needed in most settings needs to come from public health and government authority. It looks as if this may happen at local government level e.g Bangkok first. As for anyone on TV still makd wearing, that's gone beyond a joke and really should end soon.

Yes, it's absolutely critical this occurs soon. All masking of children needs to end. Also any ATK testing requirements in education need to end, as per October 1.

This is a good move that many other nations have done. It helps take the focus off Covid, including reducing media reporting, which helps society move on. It's also simply not worth the effort of daily reporting anymore. Good sign the pandemic is ending.

Gladly, the tide is starting to turn on this despite Anutins comments. Reports are the Bangkok governor is actively considering changes in masking. It will change, it has to, the current masking habit is untenable.