Thailand’s Department of Health reveals 5-10% of population refuse to wear face masks

Thailand’s Department of Health says a survey on face masks conducted during Songkran reveals that more than 90% of the population in Thailand wears face masks in public spaces. However, another 5-10% “refused” to wear face masks, saying they are “uncomfortable”.

Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health Ekkachai Piensiwatchara reported that 5-10% of the Thai population didn’t wear face masks in public (The Thaiger notes that this trend isn’t apparent around central Bangkok, where it is a rare sight indeed to see a Thai, or anyone for that matter, not wearing a mask in public).

The authority explained that some of the respondents who were ignoring wearing face masks in public said they “weren’t worried about the risk of being infected” and “felt uncomfortable” wearing them, especially during the hot season (and it has been a HOT hot season this year).

Other respondents noted that they and their family had already been infected before and had “nothing to worry about”.

Ekkachai said it was a misunderstanding because everyone remained at risk of being infected with different variants of Covid-19. He insisted that people should wear face masks when gathering in groups, whether they had already gotten infected with Covid or not. He also urged people to keep washing their hands and practice social distancing.

Wearing face masks in public is still a requirement under Thailand’s emergency decree. The emergency decree is in place at least until the end of May. Different provincial public relations departments also encourage residents to keep wearing face masks when going out.

The government has launched the Thailand Prevention Project, which spreads Covid-19 information and suggestions to Thai people via videos. One video shared on Phuket Province’s official Facebook page suggests that people should keep their masks on even before reaching home. The footage also recommends that family members wear masks at home, if there are more than 2 members in the family.

SOURCE: DailyNews | Phuket’s Provincial Public Relations Department