Leading Thai doctors calling for mask mandate to be reinstated

[snoop1130]

 

Several leading Thai doctors and medical associations are asking the Ministry of Public Health and Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration or CCSA to reinstate mask mandates due to concerns of rising Covid19 cases globally and new sub-variants.

 

The mask mandate, which previously covered all public areas, even outside alone, was made recommended but not mandatory on June 23rd, just about two weeks ago. The mandate had previously been in place mostly consistently since early 2020.

 

Although the mask mandate did not seem to bother most Thai Nationals, it was seen as a deterrant for tourism and many tourism reliant areas like Pattaya and Phuket had already seen many foreign tourists ignore the mandate previously. Tourism and business associations had long wanted to lift the mandate, even if it wasn’t being enforced, to draw tourists who might not visit just because of the thought of a mandate.

 

Full Story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/07/05/leading-thai-doctors-calling-for-mask-mandate-to-be-reinstated-covid-center-to-consider-all-options-this-friday/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-07-05

 

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[Iamfalang]

No more of this, please.

 

Just stop.

 

 

[86Tiger]

The entire world is over this.

 

But not LOS.

[Gecko123]

 

[Suvarnbhum]

Yes and 10 year extension of emergency decree!!!

Let's do it!!

[SooKee]

The conclusions these jerks jump to never cease to amaze me.  The evidence to show that the uptick in covid infection is due to the lifting of the mask mandate is what exactly?  Coincidence doesn't equal scientific evidence.  

 

That Thailand can even contemplate announcing that Covid is endemic is just bizarre given that at the slightest issue it's panic, panic, panic, lock down, masks on. ????

[Sharp]

8 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

 

 

[JAFO]

Enough already. IMHO, it should be optional. If people want to wear them, knock themselves out. The world is moving on and this fear mongering needs to stop. Reality is there will always be a variant of covid, just like the flu. It will mutate and it will kill people, just like the flu.

 

 

[ThailandRyan]

Here come the anti mask wearing commentstors again. Get off your high horses and wear them as your asked.  Keep one in your pocket...  It's not fearmongering, it's reality.

[brewsterbudgen]

On 7/5/2022 at 5:44 PM, ThailandRyan said:

Here come the anti mask wearing commentstors again. Get off your high horses and wear them as your asked.  Keep one in your pocket...  It's not fearmongering, it's reality.

That's a bit strong!  I have nothing against people wearing masks if they want to, but the days of mask mandates should be well and truly over.  I had no issues in 7-11 or Lotus' today and noticed a higher proportion of maskless Thais too (Rayong).  Let's hope they hold firm, or it will be back to school closures, travel restrictions and lockdowns before we know it!

[stoner]

On 7/5/2022 at 5:41 PM, JAFO said:

Enough already. IMHO, it should be optional. If people want to wear them, knock themselves out. The world is moving on and this fear mongering needs to stop. Reality is there will always be a variant of covid, just like the flu. It will mutate and it will kill people, just like the flu.

 

 

the world isnt moving on....the world HAS moved on. i am in canada now and covid is a huge nothing burger here. no one even talks about it anymore. anyone stuck on the whole protection narrative is stuck in the past.

 

[Dmaxdan]

On 7/5/2022 at 5:44 PM, ThailandRyan said:

Here come the anti mask wearing commentstors again. Get off your high horses and wear them as your asked.  Keep one in your pocket...  It's not fearmongering, it's reality.

Actually, what it's really about is freedom of choice.

[Snig27]

On 7/5/2022 at 5:52 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

I had no issues in 7-11 or Lotus' today and noticed a higher proportion of maskless Thais too (Rayong). 

Same in Prakanong, BKK. About 30% of Thais were maskless in the markets and street. I always carry one and wear it when I feel others will be uncomfortable if I don't or if required by the stores. However, what is as dangerous as anything else is supposedly educated medical men and women telling people that they will be safe if they wear a mask. That won't make them safer - better ventilation and crowd control will. You only have to watch the buses and boats going past with masked people rammed into them shoulder to shoulder to understand that the real risk is being ignored and the false security blanket that is a flimsy mask is being relied on instead. 
 

[garyk]

Government must have bought a few to many masks, clearing inventory.

[new2here]

to me,  remembering that almost all aspects of the whole C19 issue carrie’s with it a large political aspect, I don’t think the government can really “afford” to go back and mandate masks again.

 

To me, doing so, plays right into the oppositions narrative that the government isn’t in control, can’t control it or otherwise — true or not… it plays right into that narrative.

 

So, i think that for the government to effectively backtrack so soon, is both a loss-of-face but also hands the governments opponents a solid talking point.

 

 

What I do think the government can do, is to exert so-called soft-power and play to the nationalistic aspect… just from my view only, the mask wearing rate remains quite high even though it’s not mandatory outside any longer.. so i don’t think it’s too much of a stretch for the government to play the “keep thailand safe” type of card as opposed to formally backtracking to a hard mandate.   

[Letseng]

4 hours ago, 86Tiger said:

The entire world is over this.

 

But not LOS.

No, not the entire world. The world you talk about is just letting infection run wild in the population. 

[Lorry]

4 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

what it's really about is freedom of choic

You mean, your freedom to infect me?

[josephbloggs]

5 hours ago, SooKee said:

The conclusions these jerks jump to never cease to amaze me.  The evidence to show that the uptick in covid infection is due to the lifting of the mask mandate is what exactly?  Coincidence doesn't equal scientific evidence.  

 

That Thailand can even contemplate announcing that Covid is endemic is just bizarre given that at the slightest issue it's panic, panic, panic, lock down, masks on. ????

Who has panicked or locked anything down, or mandated masks on??  No one.  Calm down.

This is a statement by some doctors - who are nothing to do with the government - saying they recommend mask wearing due to the fast spread of the new sub-variants.  What is wrong with that?  A medical associate recommending people err on the side of caution.

Yet you call these people jerks, how insulting.  Do you have degrees to match theirs?  Jerks, right, of course.  And your medical training is....?

[Joe Farang]

We're in a Covid surge in Ireland. The main impact is people out of work.

I had my 1st Antigen test ever yesterday and am positive. Sore throat started on Sat, almost gone today. I've been working from home since March 2020, so can carry on working at home.

[tingtong]

If only they could channel this love of mask wearing to helmet wearing, a lot more life could be saved....

[Letseng]

5 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

I'm not so sure masks are finished . . . 

BA.5 variant isn't like the old days (2020)   

With Delta you got it only once, BA.4 and 5, people in the states are getting two and three times.   

Each infection appears to increase chances of long-haul covid too.  

I'll keep mine on a while longer, probably.  

 

Wise decision  I think.

[sumongkhwai]

I reckon it's a plan to sell "premium" masks to "premium" tourists since Thailand is no longer going to a cheap destination.

[whaleboneman]

I thought we were almost done with covid too but after reading this article-I'm going to be masking up again.

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2022/07/04/Get-Ready-Forever-Plague/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=040722

[RichardColeman]

And still the useless and pathetic organisation known as the  W.H.O. refuse to hold anyone accountable or hold nations responsible for lack of cooperation !

[wombat]

No doctors are named in this article.

Gutter journalism written by a hack to perpetuate fear paranoia and suspicion 

[KhonKaenLive]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai doctors are asking the CCSA to reinstate mask mandates.

Science!

[ThailandRyan]

15 minutes ago, KhonKaenLive said:

Science!

That and cases are rising and reinfection of Omicron can happen.  Personal choice.  Wo Der how many cases the hospitals are seeing. I know from a report in the BP that they are seeing an increase and beds starting to fill.

[ThailandRyan]

25 minutes ago, wombat said:

No doctors are named in this article.

Gutter journalism written by a hack to perpetuate fear paranoia and suspicion 

Common sense and seeing cases rise says different, but you go on believing that covid is done.  If people wore masks, for their own reasons during the flu season etc...might we see a decline as well in cases, just like the past 2 years because of mask wearing. No the flu did not dissappear and neither will Covid.

[klauskunkel]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Several leading Thai doctors and medical associations

I see (from left to right) some sort of official guy, a university freshman, a badminton bronze medal winner, a retired muay thai guy and a love-king-on-mondays person.

[billsmart]

I agree. I still wear my mask, and would like to see others wear one also.