Anutin firestorm: Wearing face masks is "being a responsible member of society", says leading doctor

 

Image: Bangkok Biz News

 

A leading Thai doctor responsible for stopping the spread of disease commented in the wake of health minister Anutin Charnvirakul's rant against a group of foreigners who did not accept his offer of face masks.

 

Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, the chief of the infectious diseases center, said that not everyone's risk from coronavirus is the same. 

 

Those with no symptoms of fever may deem themselves to not be at risk to themselves or others and choose not to wear face masks. 

 

But those who are feeling sick, who have been with sick people or who have been in an infected area should wear masks. 

 

In this sense wearing masks is being a responsible member of society, he said, in comments reported by Bangkok Biz News. 

 

Health minister Anutin has been blasted online after ranting to reporters when his offer of free masks was rejected by someone he called a "farang".

 

Thai media has said he has refused to apologize and comments on Facebook by the minister showed that he was clearly not in any mood to say sorry.

 

Some media have reported that he has apologized though that assessment seems to be based on the same Facebook comments. 

 

Source: Bangkok Biz News

 

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I don't really care if a doctor says wearing a mask is a good idea or isn't a good idea. There is no excuse whatsoever for a senior member of any responsible government to throw such a foul mouthed tirade of abuse against foreigners in general, as a single individual declined to take a mask from him, in what was obviously nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt, given the standard of mask they were distributing. If a minister in the UK came out with such a statement about people from any country, or area, including use of the F word in their description, how long do you think he would stay in his job?

Wheel out a so called Thai 'expert' to protect the boss and save face.

 

Predictable and pathetic.

And making sure they are available makes a responsible government!

 

 

There is so much conflicting advice regarding the wearing of face masks and the type of mask, if worn. This is the advice of the WHO:-
 

 

I took a walk in Chatuchak Park earlier this evening. I wore a mask because of the pollution but there was maybe no more than 10 other people wearing a mask. 

22 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Dr Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai, the chief of the infectious diseases center, said that not everyone's risk from coronavirus is the same.

gee; brilliant; cant wait to hear what he says next

After 15 years i am on the threshold of leaving this pathetic country WHY ? go figure.

Edited February 8, 20206 yr by Liverpudlian

HOW DID THIS GUY EVER GET HIS CREDENTIALS????? To be in the position he is in.

I ask the question in jest. I know this is Thailand --- And I know the answer. HIS RICH FAMILY bought the position for him as 'Gift', as well as paying for a passing grade for him as he finished school. Anything is possible here (with Money) (Just ask the general)

25 minutes ago, thisisrascal said:

I took a walk in Chatuchak Park earlier this evening. I wore a mask because of the pollution but there was maybe no more than 10 other people wearing a mask. 

SAME, SAME,  at a large market about 30 minutes south of Pattaya (Ban Chak Ngaeo). Hundreds of Thais and only a couple masks. This guy (Health minister Anutin) has a run-away mouth in motion and a brain that is still in 'Neutral'.

I assume they contacted this 'expert' to release something ASAP to help their health minister try and save that all precious 'face'. 

54 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

a group of foreigners who did not accept his offer of face masks.

So, before it was one foreigner. Now it´s a group! Oh dear, they do everything to sound good. Small children with bad self confidence.

5 minutes ago, kensawadee said:

SAME, SAME,  at a large market about 30 minutes south of Pattaya (Ban Chak Ngaeo). Hundreds of Thais and only a couple masks. This guy (Health minister Anutin) has a run-away mouth in motion and a brain that is still in 'Neutral'.

You can´t put non existing things in neutral.

" But those who are feeling sick, who have been with sick people or who have been in an infected area should wear masks.  "

 

So when did they release the news what areas in Thailand are infected?

Health Minister Anutin needs to get out more and mingle with the general public instead of showboating to reporters. Walking about today in downtown Chiang Mai there are hardly any Thais wearing masks. Those wearing masks, hardly any of them are N95... Plenty of other posters from different areas of Thailand posting the same observation about the lack of Thais wearing masks. How can the Govt. keep saying they have things under control?

I do not want to sound like I am defending Anutin. I am not.

 

However, many people on TVF have posted comments to the effect that "if I am not sick, I do not need to wear a mask". The problem is that this virus is infectious for some number of days before a person displays any symptoms. With that in mind, it does make sense to wear a mask based on the fact that you may actually be infected, and infectious, and not know it. It is not about protecting yourself from the virus, but limiting the possible spread of it.

It sounds like the wearing of masks is more of a BKK thing right now compared to various outlying cities... Which may be related to the fact that there may be a somewhat higher level of average education among the Thais overall in BKK, and certainly likely potential exposure to a whole lot more Chinese tourists than you'd find in various out of the way Thai cities.

 

"If we don't want to confess that we can't fight the pollution, let's tell the people they should wear masks to prevent infection to save our face. Even better we could blame ai farang for not important what."

Just returned from walking around the Phra Khanong area for about 1/2 hour.  Maybe....MAYBE...5% of Thais were wearing masks.

 

But I’m the “#&@+ing Farang”?

 

 

15 minutes ago, spiekerjozef said:

" But those who are feeling sick, who have been with sick people or who have been in an infected area should wear masks.  "

 

So when did they release the news what areas in Thailand are infected?

AND all his co-harts in the Thai gov't keep saying that they will make masks and hand sanitizers available........ AND 'THEY' HAVEN'T DONE THAT EITHER.  I've gone to dozens of stores/pharmacies looking and they all say..  "SORRY, Out-of-Stock.  Thai govt ---- LOL    They can talk up a storm but can't do anything.    (Nothing --- ONLY TALK)

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Anutin has been blasted online after ranting to reporters when his offer of free masks was rejected by someone he called a "farang".

Get your story straight.

 

he called us “F***ing Farangs”

Off topic removed, topic is NOT about Donald Trump

86 deaths In China today according to the daily mail

 

that’s just the ones we know about 

1 hour ago, Yadon Toploy said:

Wheel out a so called Thai 'expert' to protect the boss and save face.

 

Predictable and pathetic.

well he didn't 

 

The doctor clarified exactly the situation and he does not agree with the "So Called" health minister - the doctor basically confirmed WHO guidelines - not everyone needs to wear a mask 

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Wearing face masks is "being a responsible member of society", says leading doctor

so true, and meekly submitting to tsa genital probing security theater is just as responsible.

 

completely useless, but the public "feels" safer.

1 hour ago, kensawadee said:

SAME, SAME,  at a large market about 30 minutes south of Pattaya (Ban Chak Ngaeo). Hundreds of Thais and only a couple masks. This guy (Health minister Anutin) has a run-away mouth in motion and a brain that is still in 'Neutral'.

Today here in nonthaburi maybe 10% of the Thai was wearing a mouthmask....

Doctors should stick to fixing warts and leave politics to (hopefully) wiser and better educated heads.

 

Though, this is Thailand, so the availability of wiser or better educated heads is debatable.

8 hours ago, ThreeEyedRaven said:

I don't really care if a doctor says wearing a mask is a good idea or isn't a good idea. There is no excuse whatsoever for a senior member of any responsible government to throw such a foul mouthed tirade of abuse against foreigners in general, as a single individual declined to take a mask from him, in what was obviously nothing more than a cheap publicity stunt, given the standard of mask they were distributing. If a minister in the UK came out with such a statement about people from any country, or area, including use of the F word in their description, how long do you think he would stay in his job?

The reason why facemasks are not recommended for the general public is because it is most useful from stopping transmission from those that are sick (it also gives a good indicator of who to avoid ???? ).  The most common vector for infection is surfaces - virus coughed out or sneezed out onto surfaces (not transmitted through air directly)... to which we touch and then rub areas around mucus membranes.  Most people have will rub or touch areas around the face hundreds of times a day without thinking (and thinking will only reduce it as it is automatic), generally we are very tactile - and will receive it through touching railings, tables, etc as well as things like money/coins (it might be wise to install UV lighting in stores and switch to the way the Japanese dispense change - no direct contact and the money is generally disinfected through a spray or mist of sorts).  What happens in a panic is people that have no real need or use for masks panic buying causing shortages for people that should be wearing it and medical professionals.

The thought the thais found a cure for corona with a cocktail of hiv drugs

7 minutes ago, Creasy said:

The thought the thais found a cure for corona with a cocktail of hiv drugs

It was reported before Thais used it but apparently it can help those people with serious symptoms (was already reported as helpful in China) - probably something to do with keeping viral count lower to help reduce the seriousness for the more seriously sick... or something like that.