(photo by Norbert Braun)

 

After spending more than 29 months tackling COVID-19, Thailand is now busy preparing to launch its post-pandemic era.

 

Here, Thai PBS World offers an overview of the latest developments in the country’s transition from pandemic to normality.

 

Face masks

 

On June 23, the mandatory wearing of face masks in public was scrapped. This means we no longer have to wear masks outdoors in uncrowded places like public parks – though most Thais are still wearing masks outdoors on a voluntary basis.

 

And health authorities recommend that people continue wearing masks indoors around people who are not from the same household. Removing masks indoors is only advisable if they are dining, exercising, performing or receiving beauty treatments, etc.

 

Authorities have also given public services and venues like shopping malls the freedom to issue their own rules. For instance, the BTS Skytrain operator requires commuters to wear masks at all times.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/welcome-to-life-in-thailand-after-the-pandemic/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-06-29

 

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17 hours ago, webfact said:

Removing masks indoors is only advisable if they are dining, exercising, performing or receiving beauty treatments, etc.

It really is not possible to comment on the sheer monumental madness this kind of observation conjures up.

4 minutes ago, blazes said:

It really is not possible to comment on the sheer monumental madness this kind of observation conjures up.

I like this comment as an eye opener. The Thais display a great sense of responsibility, contrasting with ...

If it is true that masks keep you from spreading covid but not from catching covid, then the logic seems to be if you have covid wear a mask when out and about so you don't spread it. 

42 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

If it is true that masks keep you from spreading covid but not from catching covid, then the logic seems to be if you have covid wear a mask when out and about so you don't spread it. 

There is absolutely no doubt that the reason many Thai folks wear mask is because they feel they have some protection from the virus . Fact , some of them wear 2 masks at the same time . What is the sense in wearing a mask on a motor bike , especially when not having a crash helmet . 

Just now, superal said:

What is the sense in wearing a mask on a motor bike , especially when not having a crash helmet . 

For the odd cases, as happened to me only yesterday, you do get pulled over. Yes the policeman was masked.....  The helmet makes getting one on difficult. 

1 minute ago, jacko45k said:

For the odd cases, as happened to me only yesterday, you do get pulled over. Yes the policeman was masked.....  The helmet makes getting one on difficult. 

The mind boggles , funny 

15 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

For the odd cases, as happened to me only yesterday, you do get pulled over. Yes the policeman was masked.....  The helmet makes getting one on difficult. 

Try wearing a mask with a hearing aid and spectacles. Thais put mask on when they leave home so you see them with mask and no helmet.  If you understand Thais, they put it on so they won't forget to take it.  Don't be so hypercritical about the Thai culture as a nation of inhernt risk takers, it not your life or country. 

19 hours ago, webfact said:

we no longer have to wear masks outdoors in uncrowded places like public parks – though most Thais are still wearing masks outdoors on a voluntary basis.

 

And health authorities recommend that people continue wearing masks indoors around people who are not from the same household. Removing masks indoors is only advisable if they are dining, exercising, performing or receiving beauty treatments, etc.

 

Authorities have also given public services and venues like shopping malls the freedom to issue their own rules. For instance, the BTS Skytrain operator requires commuters to wear masks at all times.

So, nothing has changed then. You don't have to wear a mask outdoors, a demand that was never, ever enforced anywhere by anyone. Otherwise, it's as usual, with any business free to demand you wear a mask or no entry.

2 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

I like this comment as an eye opener. The Thais display a great sense of responsibility, contrasting with ...

Yep the attitudes and psyche of eastern cultures and the sociological reality of very dense living, along other factors produces attitudes starkly different than some, many western nations.

The experience of Swine Flu some years back and the fact of having direct land access with huge populations like India and China also encourage certain attitudes.

57 minutes ago, Archie Baker said:

Don't be so hypercritical about the Thai culture as a nation of inhernt risk takers, it not your life or country. 

Can you explain, please, why it is that so many hundreds of millions around the world have gone without masks for months, whereas in Thailand and elsewhere in Asia where those who are in, let's say, less free-thinking countries continue to do so? Why is there a greater chance of catching Covid in Thailand than elsewhere in the world? I look forward to your answer.

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

For the odd cases, as happened to me only yesterday, you do get pulled over. Yes the policeman was masked.....  The helmet makes getting one on difficult. 

1 hour ago, Archie Baker said:

Try wearing a mask with a hearing aid and spectacles.

 

I wear two hearing aids, eye glasses, a mask, and a full-face motorcycle helmet every day.

Oddly enough, I have not found any difficulties doing so.

It's really NOT rocket science.

I've notice NO change locally, and comments on forum seem to confirm same at Krung Thep.

 

People that did, still wearing masks, people that didn't aren't, and only noticing a few more locally NOT wearing.   People that wore masks incorrectly, are still doing, or are the few more now not wearing.

 

Still required to wear if going into any chain vendor; 7-11, Makro, Global, Lotus (mall) or HomePro, as being the only places we frequent that require.

 

I've never worn a mask any other time during the past 2 ish years.  No real need since practice social distancing, or vendors don't care, when walking from door to table to eat.  Simply taking off at table anyway, so after 1st week of that silliness, stopped wearing completely.

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

For the odd cases, as happened to me only yesterday, you do get pulled over. Yes the policeman was masked.....  The helmet makes getting one on difficult. 

So long as I have lived in Thailand, and for many years before, Standard uniform for traffic cops included  mask and raybans, making them menacing and anonymous.

32 minutes ago, FolkGuitar said:

 

I wear two hearing aids, eye glasses, a mask, and a full-face motorcycle helmet every day.

Oddly enough, I have not found any difficulties doing so.

It's really NOT rocket science.

If you can put  FF helmet over a surgical mask without it pulling the mask off then your helmet is a lousy fit and next to useless.

I understand wearing a mask indoors in busy places like the BTS & MRT. 

However, if some people want to continue to wear outside It's up to them. It shouldn't bother us at all. 

2 hours ago, superal said:

There is absolutely no doubt that the reason many Thai folks wear mask is because they feel they have some protection from the virus . Fact , some of them wear 2 masks at the same time . What is the sense in wearing a mask on a motor bike , especially when not having a crash helmet . 

I do, it helps shield my big nose from sunshine.

In the smoke season in CM, I wear double.

ah, and I do wear a helmet.

"After the Pandemic" lol

 

Back here in the UK its close to being out of control again as any GP will tell you. Johnson's sanitisation of the Tory rags is dumbing down the media exposing it further

4 hours ago, blazes said:

It really is not possible to comment on the sheer monumental madness this kind of observation conjures up.

Then don't!

So you can still wear a mask if you want to. If you don't want to the State will no longer force you to. So everybody is now happy right?

17 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Then don't!

You did.!

1 hour ago, Chivas said:

"After the Pandemic" lol

 

Back here in the UK its close to being out of control again as any GP will tell you. Johnson's sanitisation of the Tory rags is dumbing down the media exposing it further

Out of control ?

 

99.8% are still hanging on

 

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

1 hour ago, Moonlover said:

Then don't!

 

1 hour ago, mikeymike100 said:

You did.!

Did I? I have no recollection of making a single comment on:

 

1 hour ago, Moonlover said:

the sheer monumental madness this kind of observation conjures up.

Feel free to quote me.

I suffer from asthma but wearing a mask has never bothered me. For the time being I'll continue to wear one outside the home. Not to do so will offend a lot of Thais and it is, after all, their country. 

i follow the news in few countries, and the pandemic is still here. some countries

reversed many covid laws and considering new lockdowns, following the mask removal.

Masks are now a fashion statement here

On 6/29/2022 at 1:40 PM, webfact said:

After spending more than 29 months tackling COVID-19, Thailand is now busy preparing to launch its post-pandemic era

Which will be an exact copy of pre-covid.

Nothing has altered.

3 hours ago, Chivas said:

"After the Pandemic" lol

 

Back here in the UK its close to being out of control again as any GP will tell you. Johnson's sanitisation of the Tory rags is dumbing down the media exposing it further

Nonsense! People may be getting infected but now all sensible people are vaccinated, it doesn't matter as much.

A friend is in hospital for an unrelated issue, actually caught Covid in hospital. She was moved to the Covid ward for 3 days, presumably as a precaution, then back to the main ward.

7 hours ago, IAMHERE said:

If it is true that masks keep you from spreading covid but not from catching covid, then the logic seems to be if you have covid wear a mask when out and about so you don't spread it. 

Wearing a mask can help protect you from getting COVID-19, even if others aren’t wearing them

 

https://www.king5.com/article/news/verify/coronavirus-verify/masks-protect-wearer-covid-if-no-one-else-wears-one/536-ad323e29-a362-4952-9d2c-b072c40498be

 

https://www.nytimes.com/article/covid-masks-protection-stats.html

5 hours ago, ianwheldale said:

If you can put  FF helmet over a surgical mask without it pulling the mask off then your helmet is a lousy fit and next to useless.

... or a Shoei 'Neotec' that has a flip front. No problem at all.  ????

If you don't want to wear a mask, any excuse will do, right?