Top Thai virologist says if you’re healthy “you can ditch the face mask”

[webfact]

TTR Weekly

 

By Peter Roche

A prominent Thai virologist says healthy people no longer need to wear face masks, according to a Nation Thailand report. Dr Yong Poovorawan says high levels of immunity to Covid-19, built up over the past 3 years of infection and vaccination, mean healthy people can ditch the face masks.

 

Despite the compulsory wearing of face masks in public in Thailand being removed last year, many Thais continue to wear them in public spaces and on public transport. Many government office buildings also continued the requirement, including Thai immigration offices.

 

“After 3 years of the pandemic, 50 million people have been infected. 80% of citizens have received second booster doses and 40% have had a third dose, resulting in Covid-19 immunity among 96% of the population.”

 

Thailand’s mask mandate has eased as the pandemic abates and Covid-19 is re-classified as a communicable disease under surveillance. In a Facebook post, Yong says young children can now attend school without the need to wear a mask.

 

“However, hygiene in schools must be stressed, including handwashing habits, cleaning and ventilation, and keeping sick children out of the classroom.”

 

The virologist adds that adults with respiratory diseases should continue to wear face masks outside the home. In addition, everyone should wear a face mask on public transport and in crowded spaces. However, Yong says healthy people don’t need to wear them in outdoor areas such as parks, beaches, and on the street.

 

In the end though, it comes down to personal choice and for large swathes of the Thai population, the choice seems to be to stick with the masks for now.

 

“As wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory, everyone needs to decide by themselves whether to use one as we enter ‘new normal’ circumstances.”

 

Yong has also warned of the need to be vigilant in relation to highly-contagious Covid strains, as more international tourists arrive from countries where such variants are spreading rapidly.

 

He says strains such as XBB.1.5 and BQ.1.1, currently circulating in the US and Europe, are more concerning than the BA.5.2 strain. This is because  BA.5.2, currently driving the surge in infections in China, is already circulating in Thailand.

 

“BA.5.2 is not worrisome as Thailand has already faced it. Instead, the XBB.1.5 and BQ.1.1 subvariants from the US and Europe are concerning.”

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/national-news/top-thai-virologist-says-if-youre-healthy-you-can-ditch-the-face-mask/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-01-13

 

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[Moonlover]

Thanks Dr. Yong. It's high time someone spoke up with a bit of common sense on this issue.

[BKKBike09]

29 minutes ago, webfact said:

“After 3 years of the pandemic, 50 million people have been infected. 80% of citizens have received second booster doses and 40% have had a third dose, resulting in Covid-19 immunity among 96% of the population.”

So ... if you've had Covid or some vax shots, you're now immune. But still need to wear a face mask indoors.

 

Keep up the good work Doc ...

Edited January 13, 2023 by BKKBike09

[PCUSHING]

Thai's are the greatest hypochondriacs in the world.

From their mask wearing on motorbikes, mask wearing in restaurants and the real danger of catching respiratory diseases when it rains, the list is endless.

To be fair to Indian visitors, they don't give a flying <deleted>. Sneezing and coughing without a face diaper in sight.

Go get double vaxxed plus your booster and get on with your life.

[Moonlover]

18 minutes ago, sungod said:

He has just worked this out? What a total D.....k

What ever happened to the 'sad' emoji? Never mind, I can always apply my own.

???????????? the poster that is, not Dr. Yong.

 

 

Edited January 13, 2023 by Moonlover

[proton]

Top virologist who is just an MD and professor of paediatrics at Chula, I will not be taking anything he says too seriously.

[KhunLA]

26 minutes ago, PCUSHING said:

Thai's are the greatest hypochondriacs in the world...

 

... Go get double vaxxed plus your booster and get on with your life.

Do you prefer the kettle or the pot ... ????

[PCUSHING]

8 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Do you prefer the kettle or the pot ... ????

You stick with the face diapers.

I'm sure you look real pretty in them.

You most likely make more sense with a cloth muzzle on.

????

 

[stoner]

what planet am i on ? 

[KhunLA]

2 minutes ago, PCUSHING said:

You stick with the face diapers.

I'm sure you look real pretty in them.

You most likely make more sense with a cloth muzzle on.

????

 

Only ever wore mask at 7-11 & Makro, when you couldn't get in without one.

 

Mask ... IMHO ... are totally useless at stopping a virus, in most situations.  

[Lee65]

But masking provided a way to weed out the idiots. 

[KannikaP]

The dreaded mask is to stop a person from spraying out virus laden spit & breath to infect others.

The Vaccine is to minimise the effect of the virus IF YOU CATCH IT. It does not prevent you catching it, or spreading it.

[sungod]

57 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

What ever happened to the 'sad' emoji? Never mind, I can always apply my own.

???????????? the poster that is, not Dr. Yong.

 

 

Well, your post has 'Dr Yong 'and 'common sense' in the same sentence, I'll stick to the laughing emojis ????????????

Edited January 13, 2023 by sungod

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A prominent Thai virologist says healthy people no longer need to wear face masks, according to a Nation Thailand report. Dr Yong Poovorawan says high levels of immunity to Covid-19, built up over the past 3 years of infection and vaccination, mean healthy people can ditch the face masks.

Good advice, hopefully the ones that insisted on calling them face diapers will now have nothing to moan about.

Edited January 13, 2023 by Bkk Brian

[mania]

1 hour ago, Moonlover said:

Thanks Dr. Yong. It's high time someone spoke up with a bit of common sense on this issue.

He has only come forward with this now to cover for Anutin greeting all the Chinese arrivals without a mask

[Mickeymaus]

The headline is misleading. He also said 

 

"The virologist adds that adults with respiratory diseases should continue to wear face masks outside the home. In addition, everyone should wear a face mask on public transport and in crowded spaces. However, Yong says healthy people don’t need to wear them in outdoor areas such as parks, beaches, and on the street."

[TingTonger]

Un- Vaxed Russians and Faulty - Vaxed Chinese , How many Variants do we have Converging at once for Thai Bat Soup

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, Mickeymaus said:

The headline is misleading. He also said 

 

"The virologist adds that adults with respiratory diseases should continue to wear face masks outside the home. In addition, everyone should wear a face mask on public transport and in crowded spaces. However, Yong says healthy people don’t need to wear them in outdoor areas such as parks, beaches, and on the street."

Yes, the usual anti mask cry babies seem not to have read the full text or gone to the link. In reality he is changing nothing.....

But hey, if people in Issarn and up North aren't bothering they must be superfluous as they are all real smart up there!

[PCUSHING]

12 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Good advice, hopefully the ones that insisted on calling them face diapers will now have nothing to moan about.

Call them bananas if you want.

It's irrelevant. Their completely and utterly useless.

Here's what happens in the real world.

Mr FD wears is mask merrily throughout the day and then goes home to see his children.

Gives them a kiss and a hug and then he's donald ducked because, guess what, the kids have brought covid home from the greatest germ incubator of all, school.

It's a zero sum game.

Better to get fully vaccinated and then build up immunity with the natural seasonal infections you are going to get no matter what ridiculous lengths you go to.

[transam]

1 hour ago, Taboo2 said:

I have been to Issan and up North, and masks are ignored or just worn in a half-ass manner.  Everyone is tired of those face diapers.  

 

And, they do not work anyway.

 

If they did, China would not have a problem, because they wear masks 24 hours a day....555555.

Perhaps they don't wash their hands.....????

[proton]

If masks are useless why do surgeons wear them?

[Bkk Brian]

Just now, PCUSHING said:

Call them bananas if you want.

It's irrelevant. Their completely and utterly useless.

Here's what happens in the real world.

Mr FD wears is mask merrily throughout the day and then goes home to see his children.

Gives them a kiss and a hug and then he's donald ducked because, guess what, the kids have brought covid home from the greatest germ incubator of all, school.

It's a zero sum game.

Better to get fully vaccinated and then build up immunity with the natural seasonal infections you are going to get no matter what ridiculous lengths you go to.

Its not always about yourself, its also about people knowingly having a very contagious virus and reducing the chance of spreading it to others who may be at risk while you are perhaps in the office or other enclosed spaces. 

[transam]

40 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Only ever wore mask at 7-11 & Makro, when you couldn't get in without one.

 

Mask ... IMHO ... are totally useless at stopping a virus, in most situations.  

Are you a scientist, or similar...?  

[mikeymike100]

1 hour ago, PCUSHING said:

Thai's are the greatest hypochondriacs in the world.

From their mask wearing on motorbikes, mask wearing in restaurants and the real danger of catching respiratory diseases when it rains, the list is endless.

To be fair to Indian visitors, they don't give a flying <deleted>. Sneezing and coughing without a face diaper in sight.

Go get double vaxxed plus your booster and get on with your life.

And avoid Indians?????

[daveAustin]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

BA.5.2 is not worrisome as Thailand has already faced it. Instead, the XBB.1.5 and BQ.1.1 subvariants from the US and Europe are concerning.”

Of course they are even if they are not eh. No risk at all from China eh, never China!

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

“After 3 years of the pandemic, 50 million people have been infected. 80% of citizens have received second booster doses and 40% have had a third dose, resulting in Covid-19 immunity among 96% of the population.”

Did he forget most people have had COVID 2-3x already despite the masks and vaccinations?

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He says strains such as XBB.1.5 and BQ.1.1, currently circulating in the US and Europe, are more concerning than the BA.5.2 strain. This is because  BA.5.2, currently driving the surge in infections in China, is already circulating in Thailand.

 

“BA.5.2 is not worrisome as Thailand has already faced it. Instead, the XBB.1.5 and BQ.1.1 subvariants from the US and Europe are concerning.”

Chinese COVID = good

Farang COVID = bad

 

Do I see anti-white people propaganda here?

[swm59nj]

It’s common sense that if you are in an open air area not surrounded by a lot of people.  You don’t need the mask.  
And if you are in an area with no ventilation and a lot of people you should wear one. Especially if you have health issues. 
This is not a medical breakthrough.  It’s common knowledge. 
What’s the big deal of wearing a mask in certain situations.  Get over it. 

[transam]

Just now, BritManToo said:

Did he forget most people have had COVID 2-3x already despite the masks and vaccinations?

That's strange, Mrs.T and I haven't had C19 once yet, as far as we know.

Sorry to hear your experiences, do you wash your hands, etc, on a regular basis...?  

[ChaiyaTH]

Wearing those masks for 3 years and washing your hands 20 times a day is actually most likely getting them a flu and cold soon, as their immune system has weakened by that specifically alone.

 

Not to mention the possible side effects for life of multiple vaccines. Or the damage done to development of young children, who heavily rely on facial expressions their first years.

 

It's pathetic how most people still buy into all this nonsense, even after all these years.

Edited January 13, 2023 by ChaiyaTH