Picture: Siam Rath

 

Siam Rath reported on comments made by government spokesman Thanakorn Wangbunkhongchana.

 

The spokesman said that PM Prayuth Chan-ocha - currently at the three day International Conference on the Future of Asia (Nikkei Forum) - was still concerned by the spread of Covid-19. 

 

He said that people should still wear masks in public areas and at large gatherings.

 

He was also concerned by the situation in schools that were reopened last week.

 

There has been a small rise in infections generally - yesterday at 4924 cases and 37 deaths - and in schools where there have been some isolated cases.

 

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No schools have had to be closed.

 

He advised parents and other adults to remind children how to remain safe from infection.

 

The media went with "don't drop your guard" as the advice from the PM in their headline. 

 

Mask mandates are set to be changed next month, notes ASEAN NOW, though people are still likely to be advised to wear them in certain settings. 

 

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To mask or not to mask, that is the question!

Like I said before,  Thailand will have a hard time lifting the much awaited masks mandate completely. It has become a vital weapon for this junta to control the mass without firing a single shot. As long they conditioned the population about the risks of covid, they will appear to be in control.  This perpetual fear prevents street protests and large public gatherings to challenge this unlawful government. 

35 minutes ago, BayArea said:

Like I said before,  Thailand will have a hard time lifting the much awaited masks mandate completely. It has become a vital weapon for this junta to control the mass without firing a single shot. As long they conditioned the population about the risks of covid, they will appear to be in control.  This perpetual fear prevents street protests and large public gatherings to challenge this unlawful government. 

I assume you are talking about the emergency decree and not just specifically masks. Besides Bangkok and some provinces in Isan, nobody really gives a <deleted> about wearing masks or fears COVID anymore. Pattaya and Phuket and the islands, barely anyone is wearing them outside or most places besides 7-11 and shopping malls. If that's their plan, it's a big fail.

If we can't stop wearing them now/soon, then WHEN? They've had two years to vaccinate people. 

The time is NOW!

5 minutes ago, Ohyesuare said:

I assume you are talking about the emergency decree and not just specifically masks. Besides Bangkok and some provinces in Isan, nobody really gives a <deleted> about wearing masks or fears COVID anymore. Pattaya and Phuket and the islands, barely anyone is wearing them outside or most places besides 7-11 and shopping malls. If that's their plan, it's a big fail.

Yes to a degree I am referring to the emergency decree.  Thx for the updates on masking in LOS.  But I have to say, Bangkok IS  essentially Thailand.  Its the largest city and the biggest metropolitan area in the country.  Not only is it the capital, it is the  business, entertainment , trading, and financial center of the country. Furthermore it is the most visited city in the entire region of SE Asia. Optics is everything and as long as BKK appears to follow orders and thete are no " protests ", things are all good in their eyes. The junta really doesn't care about Pattaya who they viewed as a eyesore and outcasts. Phuket and the islands are too far removed from the center of power they don't posed a threat to their authority.  As long as they have Krung Thep under control and in compliance , Ithey could care less about the rest of the nation as they don't weild any substantial influence or power to be considered a threat.

1 hour ago, Ohyesuare said:

I assume you are talking about the emergency decree and not just specifically masks. Besides Bangkok and some provinces in Isan, nobody really gives a <deleted> about wearing masks or fears COVID anymore. Pattaya and Phuket and the islands, barely anyone is wearing them outside or most places besides 7-11 and shopping malls. If that's their plan, it's a big fail.

Why do people keep saying people in Pattaya don't wear mask?

 

In the bars obviously they don't but just about everywhere else about 80% of people are masked inside and outside.

 

I live and work in Pattaya and I drive around constantly, it's just total rubbish that people have stopped wearing masks here.

 

And most Thai's are also still really scared of Covid as well.

In cnx when the air is bad because of the burning season then people wear a mask.I understand that done that myself.When it is clearer less mask wearing is needed

Enough aready!

Takeoff the mask and stop the thia pass TIT

Hypocrisy, Anutin didn't seem to think they were needed yesterday when he picked up his award in Geneva.

 

2 hours ago, BayArea said:

Like I said before,  Thailand will have a hard time lifting the much awaited masks mandate completely. It has become a vital weapon for this junta to control the mass without firing a single shot. As long they conditioned the population about the risks of covid, they will appear to be in control.  This perpetual fear prevents street protests and large public gatherings to challenge this unlawful government. 

It’s just a mask, jeeez

2 hours ago, BayArea said:

Like I said before,  Thailand will have a hard time lifting the much awaited masks mandate completely. It has become a vital weapon for this junta to control the mass without firing a single shot. As long they conditioned the population about the risks of covid, they will appear to be in control.  This perpetual fear prevents street protests and large public gatherings to challenge this unlawful government. 

A doctor I recently spoke to on this thinks it will be at least another year before you dont have to wear a mask. Maybe they are wrong but I tend to agree with the opinion

3 hours ago, Thailand said:

To mask or not to mask, that is the question!

On again off again on again is there only answer today. Perhaps tomorrow there will be a better answer. Yes I am confused, how about you?

I heard on the local Pattaya radio station this morning that all over 60s may be required to keep on wearing a mask. Time to get a facelift, perhaps.

38 minutes ago, IamNoone88 said:

Enough aready!

Yes indeed. It is pathetic, but of course we all know there’s an agenda behind it. Masks off or this ‘person’ gets a massive heart attack. I don’t mind which comes first as long as they both happen in 2022. 

59 minutes ago, tomster said:

Why do people keep saying people in Pattaya don't wear mask?

 

In the bars obviously they don't but just about everywhere else about 80% of people are masked inside and outside.

 

I live and work in Pattaya and I drive around constantly, it's just total rubbish that people have stopped wearing masks here.

 

And most Thai's are also still really scared of Covid as well.

If most Thai’s are still really scared of Covid why are they happy to sit in a big circle, eat from the same dish and share the fire water glass.

Maybe it is true what you say, if so, there is no helping stupid.

To avoid confusion I live in Issan in a small village and see it every day

Covid has moved well into the domain of endemic with most countries adopting sensible precautions to protect the vulnerable.  Indeed covid is mild for the vast majority of society.  Masks seem entirely unnecessary for the vast majority although they may be well advisable for vulnerable people to wear. 

38 minutes ago, Guderian said:

Hypocrisy, Anutin didn't seem to think they were needed yesterday when he picked up his award in Geneva.

 

To me that indicates that as the Health Minister, he doesn't believe that Thailand is safe but Switzerland is. 

School near us closed after being open for just one day recently. All but 2 of the teachers tested positive for covid on the first day.

1 hour ago, tomster said:

Why do people keep saying people in Pattaya don't wear mask?

 

In the bars obviously they don't but just about everywhere else about 80% of people are masked inside and outside.

 

I live and work in Pattaya and I drive around constantly, it's just total rubbish that people have stopped wearing masks here.

 

And most Thai's are also still really scared of Covid as well.

Absolutely agree. I have been in Pattaya for just over 2 years and the only people not wearing masks appear to be new tourists who are few at the moment!

4 hours ago, webfact said:

No schools have had to be closed.

Correct, but I know of entire classes that have been closed with all the children sent home to isolate because of infections.

3 hours ago, 2long said:

If we can't stop wearing them now/soon, then WHEN? They've had two years to vaccinate people. 

The time is NOW!

4 hours ago, Thailand said:

To mask or not to mask, that is the question!

I'll mask, my answer.

PM2.5 remains.

44 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

To me that indicates that as the Health Minister, he doesn't believe that Thailand is safe but Switzerland is. 

He’s a Monkeypox Spreader 555555

He must have been speaking with his Chinese masters

Incompetent Thailand ????????????????

I always say that the right hand needs to know what the left hand is doing. Isn't there a chain of command in the government? Why do so many Thai government officials open big mouth and put foot inside, before the brain is engaged. Why one day it's the left say it's okay and tomorrow the right say no it's not. 555555

A post citing a non-credible questionable source website and a trolling post have been removed.

 

2 hours ago, tomster said:

Why do people keep saying people in Pattaya don't wear mask?

 

In the bars obviously they don't but just about everywhere else about 80% of people are masked inside and outside.

 

I live and work in Pattaya and I drive around constantly, it's just total rubbish that people have stopped wearing masks here.

 

And most Thai's are also still really scared of Covid as well.

Because too many people on this forum are experts in everything. These forum experts here in Thailand know it all.

4 hours ago, Thailand said:

To mask or not to mask, that is the question!

He obviously needs a tour to Denmark or to Nz, plus many other countries, schools in NZ do not have to wear masks now and parents don't wear them attending school, kids are not getting covid, most have had it, including parents, you can watch football, go to bars restaurants now without a mask, but you can't go shopping without one, that's the insane bit. I'm 69 unvaccinated have had Omicron my kids and wife have had it my kids never vaccinated, I have never been reinfected nor my kids or wife or any of my friends unvaccinated or their kids, but I have talked to some who have been triple vaccinated that have had it twice, so far my family and my mates families who all decided not to be vaccinated have not been reinfected nor anyone been more sick than the flue. But some people will suffer differently than others especially the elderly and comorbid.