What is the rule on mask wearing?

[speedcam]

I have not seen any official news that wearing a mask outdoor is optional. But am starting to see people not wearing mask outdoor as well as in public parks. 

[OneMoreFarang]

As far as I know people are still required by law to wear masks.

Exceptions are when people eat and drink and then they still have to wear their mask when they stand up from the table.

Some tourists seem to ignore the rules.

 

Just in general it might be good for you to know that even before it was required by law most people were wearing masks. Most people, and especially Thais, wear the masks to protect others and themselves. They do it because they want to wear them and (mostly) not because they have to.

So if you want to be seen in a good light by Thai people I recommend you wear the mask all the time. People appreciate that.

[Stocky]

I don't know about the rest of the country but in Hat Yai it's 100% compliance, folks might not wear a crash hat on a motorbike but they'll certainly be wearing a mask. I'm not sure if it's actually law, but it's defiantly the current recommendation of the MOPH/CCSA that everyone wear a mask in public. 

 

It's not something I have a problem with, and frankly I find the resistance and protests seen in some western countries totally  bemusing. 

 

.

Edited May 3, 2022 by Stocky

[HappyExpat57]

It's the million baht question. Anutin said mask wearing wasn't required around the same time the BiB's announced they would start charging up to 20,000 baht and possible jail time if they caught you outside maskless. Like the old Thai adage, "Up to you."

 

I wear one everywhere. It's a mild nuisance but you get used to it, and I can go outside without having to put in my teef.

[Iamfalang]

my advice.   wear a mask and go outside. 

 

look at people.   look at their faces.   study if they are wearing a mask.  look at everyone.  look very carefully.  

 

if over 98%, which is my guess, you have your answer.  get a percentage and deeply study the results with regression analysis using the Sum of the binomial factored to the cube of the integer of the lowest denomination not primed

 

real world study.  when the rubber hits the road.   PhD level analysis.

 

 

[vinci]

its a wild wild west these days, nvm what other do or don't, just protect yourself wear a mask

[2long]

I've been in the UK for 5 weeks and it's great not to have to wear the stupid things. Flying back to Swampy at the weekend, and it'll back to masks again.

I think the law should be officially rescinded (is there any connection to the state of emergency?) but with recommendations for people to be sensible, and air-conditioned shops can make their own decisions.

[Mavideol]

41 minutes ago, Stocky said:

I don't know about the rest of the country but in Hat Yai it's 100% compliance, folks might not wear a crash hat on a motorbike but they'll certainly be wearing a mask. I'm not sure if it's actually law, but it's defiantly the current recommendation of the MOPH/CCSA that everyone wear a mask in public. 

 

It's not something I have a problem with, and frankly I find the resistance and protests seen in some western countries totally  bemusing. 

 

.

Visited Krabi over the week end and mainly foreigners/tourists are NOT complying, none wearing masks

[Stocky]

7 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

tourists are NOT complying

Malaysian tourists in Hat Yai do comply 

[atpeace]

The OP mentioned parks and was wondering the same.  I run in rural Thailand without a mask but get some stares but most I think don't care all that much.  Could be wrong but at some point it just becomes ridiculous IMO.  I have never passed another pedestrian here within 5 meters in two years while running here but I would guess most the locals think they can catch Covid while passing near me on a motorbike but fortunately don't go agro.

 

Strange world we live in where science is insignificant vs. being righteous.  As for wearing masks  where you might come withing a few meters of someone, I wear all the time.  Not sure if needed but when in Rome...

[Scott]

I don't know if it is effective to wear masks outdoors unless it is very crowded or in a confined space.  I recently had a Thai friend visit me in the US and we traveled through many large cities (including New York, DC, Chicago, LA, etc).   She put that mask on the minute she stepped out of the hotel room and it virtually never came off, unless eating or drinking.  

 

I, on the other hand, couldn't wait to rip the thing off the minute I stepped outside.   We went no where that required masks.  We did attend one event that required proof of vaccination and that was it, but once inside, no masks required.  

 

We were also in a remote desert area with not a single soul around for miles, I suggested it might be safe to take the mask off, but that was a definite NO.  

[Destiny1990]

 Even inside planes hardly anyone puts up a mask. Its an rather unhealthy habit anyways these masks.

Edited May 3, 2022 by Destiny1990

[SatEng]

Walk around Pattaya any day and I have to say, unfortunately, the people not wearing masks are mostly westerners, or they have them around their wrists as they have to put them on to go into a shopping mall.

Regardless of whether it is the law or not, or your own ideology on mask-wearing, putting one on when outside looks polite. 

Not wearing one looks arrogant, is arrogant, and is why Thai people think westerners are arrogant

Edited May 3, 2022 by SatEng

[Srikcir]

14 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

It's the million baht question. Anutin said mask wearing wasn't required around the same time the BiB's announced they would start charging up to 20,000 baht and possible jail time if they caught you outside maskless. Like the old Thai adage, "Up to you."

 

I wear one everywhere. It's a mild nuisance but you get used to it, and I can go outside without having to put in my teef.

Anutin "confirmed there are no laws forcing people to wear masks, but he also sought cooperation from all parties, including Thai citizens and overseas tourists"

But...

Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration warns "that people might be fined for not wearing a face mask"

Feb. 2, 2022

www.thephuketnews.com

Situation normal. It's an election year.

[Tracyb]

Last week when in a local TOPS store in a mall I witnessed an English speaking Thai national politely ask a farang woman who was holding a mask on her arm why she was not wearing it on her face, “Excuse me…..why aren’t you wearing your mask on your face?”  The westerner immediately set in to an argument with the statement, “ I’m not a sheep like the rest of you people!”  The Thai notified a store security person who approached the woman and asked her to put the mask on.  
 

Moments later the the woman walked up to the Thai national who was now in the checkout lane and began to verbally accost him.  The Thai gave back exactly what he was handed and within thirty seconds the outbursts on both sides became very loud and filled with expletives.  Everyone within earshot…..and that was all who were within a fifteen meter radius…..stopped to watch and listen.  I was by this time in the next lane of cashiers with a front row seat.  Everyone, except this woman, was wearing a mask and the looks in their eyes was universally one of shock and in some cases wide eyed fear.  The Thai was unrelenting.  The farang woman stirred herself into a wild eyed, mouth frothing frenzy.  It wasn’t pretty.
 

The disturbance eventually ended with the store mananger escorting the farang woman out of the store.

 

This proved to be an excellently example of “farang arrogance” and I was truly embarrassed ????.

[Bangkok Barry]

15 hours ago, Stocky said:

It's not something I have a problem with, and frankly I find the resistance and protests seen in some western countries totally  bemusing. 

It has long been the culture to wear masks in some Asian countries, whereas in Europe - actually, anywhere outside of Asia - it a completely alien concept. Some find it difficult to adapt now it has been considered as necessary during the pandemic. Simple as that.

 

I wear a mask here but very much dislike to do so. For some reason I find it makes it difficult to read the description on goods in the supermarket, and it tends to mist up my glasses at times.

[Bangkok Barry]

5 hours ago, Scott said:

We were also in a remote desert area with not a single soul around for miles, I suggested it might be safe to take the mask off, but that was a definite NO. 

Don't expect logic from a Thai.

[Thaijack2014]

14 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

I wear one everywhere. It's a mild nuisance but you get used to it, and I can go outside without having to put in my teef.

Hear hear... Same here... But the masks are also good on a bike... Won't catch many bugs in that way. 

[mtls2005]

I think that when they announce any mask-relief here it will be big news and everyone will be aware of the change.

 

For now, the Emergency Decree mask mandate remains in force.

 

But take a look around, if it's 50-50 in say a public park then up to you.

 

It will be interesting to see if the CCSA remains in power, and if the Emergency Decree is extended yet again. We should know in the week or two.

 

 

[StevieAus]

1 hour ago, Destiny1990 said:

 Even inside planes hardly anyone puts up a mask. Its an rather unhealthy habit anyways these masks.

Not sure which planes you have been flying on but they are being worn here in Thailand

[Skeptic7]

I have a mask on at all times. On my wrist! Or in pocket. ????

 

Well past time to drop the mask mandates everywhere. Happy to see more and more people (even Thais) not wearing them. Outside I don't wear anymore. Have one with me for a visit to a market or 7-11 or such. Walking outdoors...no more. No way. Never again. Should be optional indoors too. This government and media fueled Stupid-19 covidiocy fear-frenzy has got to end NOW. 

[swm59nj]

There still is an official rule regarding mask wearing outdoors.  I live in central Bangkok.  The majority of Thais are wearing masks.  The majority of foreigners I see are not. 
Personally I feel that if you are outdoors with not crowds of people around, a mask should not be needed.  But unfortunately in many areas of Bangkok you are around many people.  Unless very early morning or late at night. 
But a rule is a rule.  Like it or not.  But it seems many foreigners move or visit another country and feel they can do as they please. 

[RocketDog]

1 hour ago, Thaijack2014 said:

Hear hear... Same here... But the masks are also good on a bike... Won't catch many bugs in that way. 

True enough, but you are passing up a natural protein supplement. Just imagine you're eating a Pringles.

Never pass up free protein on this planet.

????

[kwak250]

I have found that what i thought was an absolute stunner with a mask on turned out not nearly as beautiful when she took her mask of to eat .

 

A few even looked like they had been slurping a cappuccino .

 

[atpeace]

1 hour ago, Tracyb said:

Last week when in a local TOPS store in a mall I witnessed an English speaking Thai national politely ask a farang woman who was holding a mask on her arm why she was not wearing it on her face, “Excuse me…..why aren’t you wearing your mask on your face?”  The westerner immediately set in to an argument with the statement, “ I’m not a sheep like the rest of you people!”  The Thai notified a store security person who approached the woman and asked her to put the mask on.  
 

Moments later the the woman walked up to the Thai national who was now in the checkout lane and began to verbally accost him.  The Thai gave back exactly what he was handed and within thirty seconds the outbursts on both sides became very loud and filled with expletives.  Everyone within earshot…..and that was all who were within a fifteen meter radius…..stopped to watch and listen.  I was by this time in the next lane of cashiers with a front row seat.  Everyone, except this woman, was wearing a mask and the looks in their eyes was universally one of shock and in some cases wide eyed fear.  The Thai was unrelenting.  The farang woman stirred herself into a wild eyed, mouth frothing frenzy.  It wasn’t pretty.
 

The disturbance eventually ended with the store mananger escorting the farang woman out of the store.

 

This proved to be an excellently example of “farang arrogance” and I was truly embarrassed ????.

I can empathize with the woman's frustration but she seems to be challenged intellectually.  It isn't beyond possibility that 5 years from now society will view these type of people much more favorably but I doubt it. 

 

If it were up to me, I would let people make their own decisions and those decisions would be accepted but it isn't so I wear a mask around people.  First day it is accepted to not wear a mask in public, I will not be wearing one.

[actonion]

As of  January 2022 the Thai government mandated that everyone must wear masks when outdoors including Public transport.. violate this rule and risk a 20,000  Baht fine..+ but, like everything in Thailand it is subject to change, or lack of enforcement... so up to you ....as they say 

Edited May 4, 2022 by actonion

[atpeace]

22 minutes ago, swm59nj said:

There still is an official rule regarding mask wearing outdoors.  I live in central Bangkok.  The majority of Thais are wearing masks.  The majority of foreigners I see are not. 
Personally I feel that if you are outdoors with not crowds of people around, a mask should not be needed.  But unfortunately in many areas of Bangkok you are around many people.  Unless very early morning or late at night. 
But a rule is a rule.  Like it or not.  But it seems many foreigners move or visit another country and feel they can do as they please. 

What I find amazing is that only a majority of Thais in Bangkok are wearing masks.  In rural Thailand I would bet 99% are wearing in public and the same applies to foreigners.  I don't think there has been one death in my town or within any of the nearby towns but the fear seem to be much greater than Bangkok. 

 

Some here are finally catching Covid but nobody is comprehending that it was a minor issue for those families.  They lock the family in a home so they all become infected and then after a week let them out.  A runny nose and cough seems to be the norm.

 

 

[Road Warrior]

crash helmets no important but WEARING MASKS ARE !!!!

[KannikaP]

17 hours ago, vinci said:

its a wild wild west these days, nvm what other do or don't, just protect yourself wear a mask

Isn't the mask supposed to stop YOU from infecting others?

[Dart12]

Mask rules:

Outside it is a fashion accessory for around your elbow.

On your bike, it must be under your chin.

In mall, gently place it just under your nose.

Or...keep a french frie in your mouth at all times.  it is well known eating keeps covid away 100 and no mask required.