Phuket: Masks back on amid Covid fears - huge flip-flop in first pilot area in Thailand after just one day

[webfact]

 

Daily News Thai Caption: Put on your masks

 

Daily News reported that rules regarding the wearing of face masks were back on again in Phuket after they had been stopped. 

 

The reason was fear of Covid outbreaks. 

 

Now it's back to the original plan.

 

The media said that Phuket was the first province to pilot not wearing masks and the order to stop their wearing from June 1st was quite clear.

 

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Picture: Picture: Daily News

 

Advice from medics scuppered that. 

 

The order came yesterday just one day after the new rule was started. It is effective immediately.

 

They have to be worn outside and on private transport. 

 

The only exceptions are when eating or drinking or while exercising. 

 

The order was signed by the governor. 

 

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[Willy Wombat]

????

[smedly]

more wood

[Will B Good]

Did not see that coming.........555

[johnc925]

Masks are not legally required. There is no binding law requiring it.

[jippytum]

Seems like everyday some official makes a statement regarding some amendment to current regulations that are then reported in the press. Often within hours the new orders are recinded in another frequent  U turn. People are sick and tired ofconstant corrections from  publicly mad  idiots 

[ChaiyaTH]

Well kiss your tourists goodbye, its not even due to masks in the first place, more likely due to increased testing after waiving masks. Imagine getting a sun tan with a mask on, all other places in the south haven't been wearing masks for months and there is no issue at all. I call it big BS and peanut brains intelligence.

 

Anyway, walking can be an exercise too, as well swimming is on a beach. 

Edited June 3, 2022 by ChaiyaTH

[ChaiyaTH]

18 minutes ago, johnc925 said:

Masks are not legally required. There is no binding law requiring it.

Tell that to the cops if they mess you up in a back alley. Tea money is not required by law either.

[2long]

Amazing that the country which is famous for 'mulling' decisions that take forever to be made is the same bunch of Muppets who make it official one way, then officially the other way just hours later!

 

Anyway,  I was recently in Phuket and a lot of locals don't wear masks in public anymore.

[Rockhound]

I despair.  

[Dukeleto]

Ahhhh that headline just takes me back to early 2020, nothing soothes more like a bit of nostalgia.

[Stefanix]

We can rely on... consistent inconsistency.

[wensiensheng]

I don’t know anything about Governors orders, but I can personally attest to the fact that in the area of Phuket in which I live, few people have been wearing masks when outside. Of course it’s required to get into banks, supermarkets, 7-11 etc, but outside, nope, it basically stopped months ago.

[RoyLee]

What's wrong with wearing a mask if it makes you feel better, and letting the rest of us breath free,  atleast outdoors?

[simola]

18 minutes ago, RoyLee said:

What's wrong with wearing a mask if it makes you feel better, and letting the rest of us breath free,  atleast outdoors?

Totally agree. Unfortunately it’s all about maintaining a state of fear and control of people. My wife is Thai and we have tickets booked to Thailand in March. We won’t be coming unless the mask nonsense stops. Why would we travel and spend hard earned money in a country that has nonsense restrictions we don’t have in our own. RIP tourism ????????.

[BKKBike09]

Sounds like Governor Narong has been put back in his (sand)box by an order from a higher authority. No way he'd flip flop that quickly, especially given that the original order only relaxed outdoor masking in well-ventilated areas etc.. 

[Rockhound]

Phuket's 7-day average cases are now 8 per day.  An average of 0.4 people are dying each day having tested positive for Covid recently.  This is insanity.  If people want to wear masks for the rest of their lives let them - but let those of us who would rather breathe fresh air go without.

 

[Chongalulu]

In football parlance - "You don’t know what you’re doing! " ???? 

Clueless, directionless with no credibility. 
 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, johnc925 said:

Masks are not legally required. There is no binding law requiring it.

Tell that to plod when they ask you where is your mask.

[ThailandRyan]

2 hours ago, johnc925 said:

Masks are not legally required. There is no binding law requiring it.

It is a mandate, but rarely enforced.  Try and walk into a government office, mall or ride on the MRT and BTS, and then tell us how your non mask wearing goes over...

[Boomer6969]

The Thais are unique.

 

[Boomer6969]

Or maybe collecting from tourists the "not wearing mask" fee is easier than collecting the "not wearing helmet". We all know how "pragmatic" the Patong police can be.

[bkk6060]

It is apparently being enforced some reports of police stopping people on motorbikes w/o mask and being told they need to pay 20,000.  I would not mess around and wear one if you go to Phuket.

[moogradod]

50 minutes ago, BKKBike09 said:

Sounds like Governor Narong has been put back in his (sand)box by an order from a higher authority. No way he'd flip flop that quickly, especially given that the original order only relaxed outdoor masking in well-ventilated areas etc.. 

No need to elaborate on the consequences on tourism I suppose. The only question I would have is: How is this communicated abroad, where the tourists to be would decide to visit or not. Or is it not ? Surprize on arrival otherwise ! ????????

 

And it really scares me that such decisions can be made within such a short time frame. It conveys not only the feeling that the decisionmakers did not think through what they did decide but that any change could happen anytime again - shutdown ? curfew ? As a tourist that would make me insecure even further. Would you book under such circumstances ?

[Mike k]

1 hour ago, BKKBike09 said:

Sounds like Governor Narong has been put back in his (sand)box by an order from a higher authority. No way he'd flip flop that quickly, especially given that the original order only relaxed outdoor masking in well-ventilated areas etc.. 

He didn't have payute's permission 

[ikke1959]

They are very afraid that Bangkok will follow... and no masks, no distance means maybe protests again ......

[Kalasin Jo]

3 hours ago, Rockhound said:

I despair.  

Me too. Sigh. On off, on off is not the way to go.

[moogradod]

40 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

It is apparently being enforced some reports of police stopping people on motorbikes w/o mask and being told they need to pay 20,000.  I would not mess around and wear one if you go to Phuket.

Whether I take that as a joke or not does not matter. As a visitor you can do nothing to change it. The best you can get out of it is to take it as an exercise of patience and be thankful for it. That cheers up a bit.

[Mywayboy]

5 hours ago, Willy Wombat said:

????

Incompetent idiots 

[spidermike007]

Please, stop the nonsense. It is time for massive civil disobedience, but I do not see that happening, as the populace has been cowed into total submission. Good job Anutin. You scared them silly. It is getting to the point to utter stupidity, and a total lack of common sense. The other day I was in an outdoor restaurant, and there was an entire table of people wearing masks. As soon as the food arrives, they will not only be taking off their masks, but digging into the common area food with their own spoons, which they have already eaten with. The lack of science in this debate, and situation is stunning. It is really about keeping the people scared, at this time. Numbers continue to drop, standard cloth masks have limited effectiveness, wearing them outdoors is downright silly, and this ultra paranoid behavior has to stop. The government and goons like Anutin are largely responsible for an environment of fear at this stage of the game. This is about maintaining paranoia, control, and fear. After all, you would not want the people to get too comfortable. They might take to the streets again, and show their disdain for this thoroughly toxic, and nearly useless administration.

Being a lemming is not a desirable trait. We all know how minor the effect of a cloth mask is. Defy nonsense. Be disobedient. Defy stupidity and big brother's diabolical scare mongering nonsense, every chance you get. The new motto. "Come visit the land of cowards, where there are masks as far as the eye can see". Even outdoors. Even on motorbikes! Masks, and more masks everywhere. A recipe for a great vacation. Masks and reduced nightlife. Come and have some fun! Thailand is unique. We are one of the few nations left that asks you to wear a mask everywhere you go. And though we already said masks would be scrapped in two weeks, we had a one day spike, and since we are neither courageous nor do we practice common sense, we will keep wearing them for a year or more. Even outdoors. Even on the beach. I for one, will not be wearing a mask for much longer. This is getting ridiculous. Defy stupidity and oppression! Embrace science and common sense.