Thais protecting themselves less against Covid - mask wearing, social distancing, hand washing all down concerns DoH

[webfact]

 

INN reported in a banner headline that Thais were exhibiting behaviour that showed they were protecting themselves less against Covid.

 

They said they were ignoring pleas to continue to wear masks, social distance and wash hands. 

 

The truth however is that the figures in a latest survey are not down a great deal - and Thais have already been told in a directive that they need not wear masks outdoors in open spaces, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Dr Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai, said that people still need to protect themselves again BA.4 and BA.5 strains by adopting what he called universal protection.

 

Polls and surveys by the Department of Health that he heads suggested that comparing May to July mask wearing had dropped from 96.1% to 94.6%.

 

Hand washing had dropped from 91.5% to 88.1%.

 

Social distancing was down from 84.6% to 78.6%.

 

When all three were considered the adherence had dropped from 82% to 74.1%.

 

ASEAN NOW notes that as far as the Thai capital Bangkok goes, the number of Thais ditching their masks in public places remains extremely low. Perhaps that extra 1 in a hundred that the DoH figures suggest. 

 

Interestingly the INN article was in their "crimnal" news section. 

 

Many foreigners online think it's "criminal" (or idiotic) that so many people continue to wear masks in the street despite the relaxing of the rules. 

 

While many foreigners especially in tourism places have stopped wearing masks some still feel pressured into following suit given the fact that so many Thais continue with the practice.

 

For many mask wearing was easy because they did it anyway pre-pandemic because of pollution. 

 

Are you wearing a mask in the street or just heeding the advice to keep one on inside, in crowded places or within certain businesses?

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2022-07-30

 

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[chalawaan]

People everywhere are over it. In NZ almost half the people at the supermarket are maskless. 

I still wear one, and I have always been a hand hygiene freak. 

But I really don't care what other people do, and I let them make their own health decisions. 

I cannot be anti prohibition on one hand then insist others obey the state on the other.

I know Governments lie. Constantly. I follow the Science and I make my own bets.

If masks come off here this summer, and I hope they do, I'll be one of them.

[Thailand]

Every motorcyclist in Chiang Mai still wears a mask, some wear helmets.

 

Driving out of my estate at 5.20a.m yesterday there was a guy running and a woman in a car both wearing masks!

[smedly]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

They said they were ignoring pleas to continue to wear masks, social distance and wash hands

the people have endured almost 3 years of this ##

 

covid is over move on, we cannot live like this forever

 

in Thailand this no longer about covid it is about control, the public are not part of your military Mr Prayuth, they don't Salut or stand to attention

[Sharp]

You do know the country is advertised as open to tourism with no restrictions in place!?

Dr Suwannachai !!!!

[Letseng]

22 minutes ago, Sharp said:

You do know the country is advertised as open to tourism with no restrictions in place!?

Dr Suwannachai !!!!

This doesn't mean ppl shouldn't protect themselves. 

[J Branche]

Agreed.  Covid is not over.  There are at risk groups that should continue to protect themselves when they go in higher risk areas.

 

I got it 3 weeks ago. I have 4 vaccinations.  Covid is not fun, miserable for 3 days then negative by 7 day test.

 

It seems hospitals and medical are managing Covid on a more outpatient basis and try to limit inpatients to the ones most at need.

 

Why the government doesn't require mask wearing on public buses, trains, and other confined mass transit is sending mixed messages to the public.

[2long]

What I want to know is 'what are we waiting for?'

Ok, a year or two ago we had lockdowns, some types of business had to close and we had to wear masks.... 'until we reached herd immunity, mainly from vaccinations.'

But now there are new strains (always gonna be) and some countries have been laid back while others (Japan for example) have been strict but are suffering.

So what are we actually waiting for before masks come off? There's no 'in 3-6 months we'll be back to normal.' Pretty much everyone has been vaxxed, and some 5 times but still get infected.

Do people expect to be wearing masks (as per rules or voluntarily) in 5 years time? In 2-3 years? I would guess not, so my question again is WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR before people realise, or those in charge drop the mandate?

[Lucky Bones]

17 minutes ago, 2long said:

What I want to know is 'what are we waiting for?'

Ok, a year or two ago we had lockdowns, some types of business had to close and we had to wear masks.... 'until we reached herd immunity, mainly from vaccinations.'

But now there are new strains (always gonna be) and some countries have been laid back while others (Japan for example) have been strict but are suffering.

So what are we actually waiting for before masks come off? There's no 'in 3-6 months we'll be back to normal.' Pretty much everyone has been vaxxed, and some 5 times but still get infected.

Do people expect to be wearing masks (as per rules or voluntarily) in 5 years time? In 2-3 years? I would guess not, so my question again is WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR before people realise, or those in charge drop the mandate?

I am guessing that a number of elder persons, particularly in the villages, will never remove them now.

That is their choice and if they feel comfortable, good for them.

WE are not waiting.....just do whatever makes you feel good but also respect others.

Good luck.

[StayinThailand2much]

I noticed that less people wear masks. And I see a good number of males (after using a toilet), not washing their hands

Edited July 30, 2022 by StayinThailand2much

[Lucky Bones]

3 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

I noticed that less people wear masks. And I see a good number of males (after using a toilet), not washing their hands

Males not washing their hands after the loo is pretty standard here.

Much more interested in looking at the mirror.

[onthedarkside]

A pair of trolling posts have been removed.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

Hand washing had dropped from 91.5% to 88.1%.

Back to not washing hands after going to the toilet again then.

[MrJ2U]

11 hours ago, chalawaan said:

People everywhere are over it. In NZ almost half the people at the supermarket are maskless. 

I still wear one, and I have always been a hand hygiene freak. 

Unfortunately in Thailand Washing hands has never been very important.

 

  New Zealand and other Western countries definitely have higher hygiene protocols. 

[smedly]

5 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Unfortunately in Thailand Washing hands has never been very important.

 

  New Zealand and other Western countries definitely have higher hygiene protocols. 

strange that most of the people I observe not washing their hands are actually foreigners especially men

[jacko45k]

17 hours ago, Sharp said:

You do know the country is advertised as open to tourism with no restrictions in place!?

Dr Suwannachai !!!!

What restrictions do you know of......?

[ezzra]

18 hours ago, smedly said:

the people have endured almost 3 years of this ##

 

covid is over move on, we cannot live like this forever

 

in Thailand this no longer about covid it is about control, the public are not part of your military Mr Prayuth, they don't Salut or stand to attention

Only fools and Ostriches thinks that Covid is over, you only have to read and see the news how many people are dying of it EVERYDAY in many courtiers around the world and how Covid/Omicron patiatet clogs the the hospital's beds...

[arithai12]

15 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Only fools and Ostriches thinks that Covid is over, you only have to read and see the news how many people are dying of it EVERYDAY in many courtiers around the world and how Covid/Omicron patiatet clogs the the hospital's beds...

When people say "Covid is over" they mean the general configuration of restrictions, emergencies, infection numbers every day, travel bans, and so on. Clearly the virus is still around, we all know that, but what some posters (and I) are trying to say is that we want to resume a modicum of normal lives. And some economic recovery would be nice too.

 

It goes without saying that precautions are still advisable for people at risk, but this should be their educated choice not a mandate. As for people dying EVERYDAY, it is interesting that they never tell us the vaccination and pre-conditions. 20-30 deaths per day in Thailand from Covid is still a fraction of deaths on the road (mostly preventable and that affect all ages), about which no eminent doctor posts warnings on FB.

[MrJ2U]

8 hours ago, smedly said:

strange that most of the people I observe not washing their hands are actually foreigners especially men

Usually because theres never any soap in the bathrooms.  No use just running your hands under filthy tap water. 

[jacko45k]

20 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Usually because theres never any soap in the bathrooms.  No use just running your hands under filthy tap water. 

The Mall bathrooms seem to be okay in that respect... just the dryers are out of order or ineffective.

[MrJ2U]

20 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

The Mall bathrooms seem to be okay in that respect... just the dryers are out of order or ineffective.

The malls and PTT gas stations are fine.

 

I'm in Issan and in the large open air markets theres usually no soap.

Hygiene protocols in Issan are lacking for sure. 

 

Nothing compares to Terminal 21 bathrooms though! 

 

 

[daveAustin]

On 7/31/2022 at 6:16 AM, ezzra said:

Only fools and Ostriches thinks that Covid is over, you only have to read and see the news how many people are dying of it EVERYDAY in many courtiers around the world and how Covid/Omicron patiatet clogs the the hospital's beds...

People die everyday from all sorts of things. Did you know that? That’s what we do unfortunately. Flu is a horrible killer. It’s just covid is still the in thing, keeping the tinfoil hat brigade on edge. Move on already and try to enjoy your life!

Edited August 1, 2022 by daveAustin

[Bday Prang]

On 7/30/2022 at 7:36 PM, J Branche said:

 

So you were "miserable" for 3 days and all clear after 7 days ?    Doesn't sound to bad to me, Hardly a reason for the media and WHO panic that continues. to be inflicted upon us. They just cannot let it go  10 people die from covid and its headline news   10 people die from flu and it doesn't get a mention    Not exactly unbiased reporting

                        And again more meaningless statistics, expressed to one decimal place in order to appear more precise and accurate, what does a reduction in "social distancing" actually mean anyway ?  Are less people maintaining a distance ? Or are people keeping less of a distance?  Totally meaningless statistics, again and again  

 How many people where surveyed and where where the surveys undertaken, What kind of people where surveyed? Different people in different circumstances will give different answers. Was there even a survey undertaken?  who knows ?

                         The removal of the mask mandate does not send out mixed messages , it sends out the very clear message that masks are no longer a requirement as they were before, however for the mask "obsessed" you can still wear one if you wish, can't really say fairer than that. 

                          "Hospitals treating most people on an outpatient basis, and limiting inpatients to those most at need"  Am I missing something, as I thought that was normal, regardless of the disease in question . They are indeed hospitals not quarantine centers and should never have been used as such.

                           To the horror of the media and all the other panic mongers, life for the majority of people is now continuing pretty much as normal for the vast majority of people the world over. How many people died from covid yesterday ? 10 ? 20? to be honest I don't know and I don't care as it's  not very many at all considering  a population of 70 million. but they don't broadcast that figure to one decimal place do they ? as it would not instill the fear that they like to promote

Do I stil wear a mask ?   well actually yes, however only in areas were others are wearing them, but purely for ensuring a quiet life and avoiding conflict with the brainwashed zealots, To be perfectly honest I, like most people don't give covid a second thought. In the same way I don't spend my life worrying about Flu or Dengue fever or Malaria or any of the other thousands of diseases that its possible to contract. Including Monkey Pox which could well be the next "media frenzy"

                          We all die one day,  some prematurely, and for a multitude of reasons. Its best not to spend the remainder of ones life in a state of worry and fear about Covid 19 or anything else for that matter