Group of Thai parents protest at the Thai Ministry of Education over mandatory Covid-19 testing and facial masks for students

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By Nop Meechukhun

 

Bangkok – A group of parents arrived at the Ministry of Education yesterday, January 18th, 2022, to demand the cancellation of regular ATK (Rapid Covid-19) testing and the mandatory policy of wearing facial masks for students.

 

The adults, who had reportedly traveled from Bangkok and all over the country, were seen raising banners and messages written in Thai such as “Checking with ATK is a waste of money”, “Stop forcing ATK testing”, “Make Covid-19 endemic”, “If you’re forced to have your ATK test every week, how do you feel,” etc.

 

One of the representatives, who only revealed her name as Natthamon, told local media that the parents and the school personnel have been affected by the strict policies and measures of the Ministry of Public Health. Some of them were not considered necessary, according to her, such as forcing asymptomatic students to have ATK tests.

 

Natthamon stated to the associated Thai press: “When concerned parents saw that children were in pain during compulsory ATK testing, our hearts broke too. We don’t think it is needed to be frequent and was not necessary. At the same time, wearing a mask should not be compulsory but should be voluntary, especially for young children who find them uncomfortable.”

 

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Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/01/19/group-of-thai-parents-protest-at-the-thai-ministry-of-education-over-mandatory-covid-19-testing-and-facial-masks-for-students/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-01-19

 

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[RandiRona]

I can think of several different better reasons for protest, like for a better education, equal rights democracy but for masks and ATK tests? They really need to set their priority right seems like things would stay as is for years to come. 

[RichardColeman]

If my 5 year old daughter has to wear a mask to get back to school after nearly a year away, I'm all for the masks !

 

As for the testing, you'd have thought they would have come up with something easy for children, rather than shoving some straw like thing up your nose. I'm ok doing my lateral flow in my bedroom - but I am not looking forwards to some PCR tests end of the month for coming back. If I worry, some kids must be petrified !

[ezzra]

Less that 20 people holding placards means nothing and shouldn't paid attention too, testing kids and making them wear masks is still a good call for now...

[RandiRona]

Hahaha....what a hypocrisy!! They themselves are wearing masks to protest against mask wearing??? TIT

[arithai12]

2 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

If my 5 year old daughter has to wear a mask to get back to school after nearly a year away, I'm all for the masks !

 

As for the testing, you'd have thought they would have come up with something easy for children, rather than shoving some straw like thing up your nose. I'm ok doing my lateral flow in my bedroom - but I am not looking forwards to some PCR tests end of the month for coming back. If I worry, some kids must be petrified !

Have you ever done it? What's so terrible about it? Brushing teeth or clipping nails must be a trauma then.

[EVENKEEL]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

If my 5 year old daughter has to wear a mask to get back to school after nearly a year away, I'm all for the masks !

 

As for the testing, you'd have thought they would have come up with something easy for children, rather than shoving some straw like thing up your nose. I'm ok doing my lateral flow in my bedroom - but I am not looking forwards to some PCR tests end of the month for coming back. If I worry, some kids must be petrified !

We use the ATK saliva test for my daughter's school. 

[dinsdale]

No masks, no testing maybe no onsite school due to outbreaks. I think one of the reasons Omicron cases are low here other than a complete lack of community testing which basically has never happened here and people not reporting positive ATK's is mask wearing. Massive numbers in the UK, USA and Australia and what do you see there? No mask wearing. Omicron it seems may be more infectious than measles. Masks WILL help stop the spread. I have been back onsite teaching for 2 days and several students are missing because they have Omicron. No testing, no masks, come to school? Well everyone gets Omicron. Is this what these idiots want?

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, RandiRona said:

Hahaha....what a hypocrisy!! They themselves are wearing masks to protest against mask wearing??? TIT

Think you might have missed the  point of what they were protesting about. 

[jacko45k]

1 hour ago, RandiRona said:

Hahaha....what a hypocrisy!! They themselves are wearing masks to protest against mask wearing??? TIT

They are protesting the requirement of their kids to wear masks at school. Them wearing masks out in public is a requirement and completely different matter. If anything it may demonstrate they are not completely ignorant, like some folks going maskless walking the streets. 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, RandiRona said:

I can think of several different better reasons for protest, like for a better education, equal rights democracy but for masks and ATK tests? They really need to set their priority right seems like things would stay as is for years to come. 

Agreed, facial masks worn in close proximity in school is not a bad idea, as for ATK testing, it's the only way for schools to know if anyone is actually infected...

Or would the parents rather wait until a coughing sniveling child infects the whole class before doing anything?

 

[EVENKEEL]

How many 7 yr olds in Thailand have been seriously ill or died from Covid, bet you it's single digit number.  Oh wait you probably want to vaccinate kids to protect others. Bad reason

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

The mask stop PM2.5 too... not just the virus.

Maybe you need to look at the wider picture.

[RandiRona]

1 hour ago, Artisi said:

Think you might have missed the  point of what they were protesting about. 

May be I did as well as the thousands other parents who want their kids to go attend school safely with masks and tests.

[RandiRona]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Them wearing masks out in public is a requirement and completely different matter

And so is wearing mask in school and ATK test so they should respect it same way as they respect wearing maks in public.

 

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

If anything it may demonstrate they are not completely ignorant, like some folks going maskless walking the streets. 

That's why I called them hypocrites,  right for them to wear mask but not for kids in school where they can safely operate with masks and ATK test? 

[4MyEgo]

4 hours ago, hotchilli said:

The mask stop PM2.5 too... not just the virus.

Maybe you need to look at the wider picture.

Straight into an air conditioned classroom when dropped off, no assembly, so your point has no relevance in this situation, respectfully speaking.

[transam]

9 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

If my 5 year old daughter has to wear a mask to get back to school after nearly a year away, I'm all for the masks !

 

As for the testing, you'd have thought they would have come up with something easy for children, rather than shoving some straw like thing up your nose. I'm ok doing my lateral flow in my bedroom - but I am not looking forwards to some PCR tests end of the month for coming back. If I worry, some kids must be petrified !

My mum used to stick a cotton bud up my nose and in my ears on a regular basis. Tests and masks are for protection all round, and really no big issue for the little angels....????

[Virt]

As for the ATK tests Finland invented tests where you just blow in them and they got their EU approval.

 

Maybe tests like that in the future will make it so much easier to be tested without any hassle.

 

As for masks.

Sure, they do provide a small layer of protection, so in schools it might be a good idea, if it's the younger ones spreading it to teachers and their own family.

Not so much for the kids protection, but more to stop society from missing teachers and others at their work.

Some countries are starting to have real issues in their work force due to many in isolation at home.

 

At my work we have to wear masks inside too.

Annoying as hell, but not much you can do about it, but as soon as the numbers drop, so does the inside mandatory masks too in Denmark, and i can imagine Thailand will do so too.

 

[BritManToo]

Raised 6 kids vaccine free.

All healthy and with no medical problems.

[Bert got kinky]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Raised 6 kids vaccine free.

All healthy and with no medical problems.

Raised 6 kids vaccine free.

All during the most deadly pandemic in our lifetime??????????? ????

 

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by Bert got kinky

[transam]

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Raised 6 kids vaccine free.

All healthy and with no medical problems.

Weren't they lucky, most parents take advice from their doctor to protect their children, that's why there are vaccines for many known ailments that can/could ruin a youngsters' life...

[RichardColeman]

8 hours ago, arithai12 said:

Have you ever done it? What's so terrible about it? Brushing teeth or clipping nails must be a trauma then.

That was my point that you seem to have missed. It's the fear of something, not the process. I imagine in children that fear can be heightened with a process they have not experienced before.

[onthedarkside]

Several misinformation posts have been removed, along with ensuing replies. And then follow-on posts that deteriorated into dueling flame comments between members.

 

[Virt]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Raised 6 kids vaccine free.

All healthy and with no medical problems.

Are you saying you didn't protect your kids against these diseases?

 

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/index.html

 

[BritManToo]

21 minutes ago, Virt said:

Are you saying you didn't protect your kids against these diseases?

 

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/index.html

 

5 of them are over 18, they can make their own choices, up to them.

I've previously caught flu, chickenpox, mumps, measles ..... and they didn't harm me, why would they harm my kids?.

[Bluespunk]

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

5 of them are over 18, they can make their own choices, up to them.

I've previously caught flu, chickenpox, mumps, measles ..... and they didn't harm me, why would they harm my kids?.

Chickenpox and measles can lead to quite serious and at times life threatening complications. Rare but does happen.

 

Chickenpox can also lead to shingles occurring later in life.

 

Mumps less likely to have serious consequences but in very rare cases it can lead to more serious problems such as meningitis. Very unlikely but does happen.

 

So in effect you escaped serious consequences but the conditions you mention can and do cause harm and lead to more serious conditions.

[transam]

15 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

5 of them are over 18, they can make their own choices, up to them.

I've previously caught flu, chickenpox, mumps, measles ..... and they didn't harm me, why would they harm my kids?.

But YOU made their choice when they were kids regarding vaccine protection, you did nothing.

Your last sentence adds you up, sadly....????

[djayz]

They protest about this, but not about the excruciatingly low standards of education?!?

[Artisi]

7 hours ago, RandiRona said:

May be I did as well as the thousands other parents who want their kids to go attend school safely with masks and tests.

Seems you also missed the point, they were protesting about kids in school, masks and testing - not about  themselves wearing or not wearing masks - there is no correlation between the two - the wearing masks or testing in schools is a completely different discussion - for me, masks should be worn in class - whether constant  nasal testing warrant the invasive is open for discussion. 

[Kenchamp]

One concern i have with this testing is for those that may test positive. You can imagine how other kids may treat the "leper" when they return to school having done their 10 days of isolation or whatever.