In Thailand Right Now, Do You Wear A Mask Or Not?

[tm_nyc]

I knew in advance that Thailand still has a Covid mask requirement in place but, traveling from the US, I was still a little surprised that virtually all the Thais I see in Bangkok are wearing masks.  At the same time, many/most of the farang I encounter are not.  Personally, I would much rather not wear a mask but I do because it feels a little disrespectful not to.  I am curious to know what other members are doing.

Yes, I understand that many Asian countries (starting with China) have not lifted Covid restrictions as quickly as the US & Europe.  No, I absolutely do not want to re-open the discussion of the pros & cons of how different countries have responded to the pandemic.

[joshhb]

Just returned from Thailand. I preferred to respect their fondness for mask wearing where it makes sense - indoors, transportation, crowded soi. But not elsewhere. Saw some Thai people climbing Phu Chi Fah in a mask at dawn! Seeing ferang on the BTS maskless seemed so disrespectful. 

[emiel1981]

Personally I wear mask in Thailand in airplane, skytrain, metro. But not anymore in other places. Not in street, not in restaurants or bars and not even in shopping malls.

It is correct all Thai still where their masks EVERYWHERE. But I can't be bothered anymore. Full vaxed, new less harmful variants... There must be a point to live our lives again as much "normal" as possible. 

[gayinpattaya]

In Pattaya, I haven't worn one at all in 2 months. It's a thing of the past. I was in a Pharmacy yesterday and the nice lady smiled, and I could see it! Fantastic.
A few of us expats commented the other night that were was only 1 "expat" who walks through Jomtien Complex masked up. He stands out like a sore thumb.

It is true that maybe 50-70% of Thais are still wearing them indoors (shopping malls, ect). Take a short walk through Central, and you won't see many, if any foreigners with one. 

Having said all this, I hear in Bangkok it's very different and mask use is still near universal. A good reason to stay away from Bangkok. 

[Lucky]

Has COVID left Thailand? If not, wear a mask!

[Boy69]

  On 9/26/2022 at 6:41 PM, gayinpattaya said:

In Pattaya, I haven't worn one at all in 2 months. It's a thing of the past. I was in a Pharmacy yesterday and the nice lady smiled, and I could see it! Fantastic.
A few of us expats commented the other night that were was only 1 "expat" who walks through Jomtien Complex masked up. He stands out like a sore thumb.

It is true that maybe 50-70% of Thais are still wearing them indoors (shopping malls, ect). Take a short walk through Central, and you won't see many, if any foreigners with one. 

Having said all this, I hear in Bangkok it's very different and mask use is still near universal. A good reason to stay away from Bangkok. 

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Even before Covid many locals wear masks in Bangkok because of the air pollution so it's not uncommon there.

[gayinpattaya]

  On 9/26/2022 at 7:04 PM, Boy69 said:

Even before Covid many locals wear masks in Bangkok because of the air pollution so it's not uncommon there.

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I spent a year living in Bangkok in 2015-2016. There were days that I put on a pollution filter mask. But they are very different than anything medical. You can buy packs of replacement filters in 7-11 that you chance each day. They might still sell them. I don't know. I don't live in Bangkok anymore.  

[gayinpattaya]

  On 9/26/2022 at 6:55 PM, Lucky said:

Has COVID left Thailand? If not, wear a mask!

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no? You choose how to live your life. I will choose how to live mine. 

[Lucky]

 

  On 9/26/2022 at 7:08 PM, gayinpattaya said:

no? You choose how to live your life. I will choose how to live mine. 

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Don't be an idiot. I am expressing my opinion.

[TotallyOz]

I am in Bangkok. I do not personally see the need for masks. However, it is the law and it is the norm and I wear them everywhere. This is not my country and I owe respect to those that are Thai. My feelings are irrelevant. I have seen many eye rolls at foreigners who take off the masks. For those that wish to follow the norms in the USA, feel free and go to USA and do that. But, when in Thailand, respect their rules and norms.

[floridarob]

I feel naked without a mask, weird.

People complain about wearing a mask, yet wear clothes....I feel it's more a political statement than anything else....I don't get it 😏

[zombie]

Living in Bangkok with the high levels of pollution wearing a mask makes sense.

[alvnv]

  On 9/26/2022 at 9:39 PM, TotallyOz said:

I am in Bangkok. I do not personally see the need for masks. However, it is the law and it is the norm and I wear them everywhere. This is not my country and I owe respect to those that are Thai. My feelings are irrelevant. I have seen many eye rolls at foreigners who take off the masks. For those that wish to follow the norms in the USA, feel free and go to USA and do that. But, when in Thailand, respect their rules and norms.

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I agree. When in Rome…

[zoomomancs]

  On 9/26/2022 at 9:39 PM, TotallyOz said:

I am in Bangkok. I do not personally see the need for masks. However, it is the law and it is the norm and I wear them everywhere. This is not my country and I owe respect to those that are Thai. My feelings are irrelevant. I have seen many eye rolls at foreigners who take off the masks. For those that wish to follow the norms in the USA, feel free and go to USA and do that. But, when in Thailand, respect their rules and norms.

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The mask mandate was lifted months ago: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-24/thailand-ends-restrictions-on-bars-scraps-mask-mandate  Now we decide.

[ichigo]

I sometimes wore a mask in Bangkok prior to the pandemic, and when I was there in June/July I also wore a mask. For me I liked the added benefit of providing me with kinda a sense of anonymity and also because I look ethnically ambiguous I just kinda blend in when wearing a mask, often being mistaken for a local.

[PeterRS]

  On 9/27/2022 at 2:24 AM, zoomomancs said:

The mask mandate was lifted months ago: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-24/thailand-ends-restrictions-on-bars-scraps-mask-mandate  Now we decide.

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Try riding the Skytrain or MRT without a mask. Or even in a taxi.

[a-447]

As visitors to their country we should respect their wishes vis à vis masks. 

What we do in our own country is our own business.

Farang disregarding local sentiment is not a good look for us Imho.

[kjun12]

I wear a mask when I leave my home.

[zoomomancs]

Twice in this thread wrong information is given: "Thailand still has a Covid mask requirement in place"......"I do not personally see the need for masks. However, it is the law"

The reality is: "Outdoor mask-wearing has been endorsed as voluntary although the public are still advised to wear a face mask in crowded places, such as, public transport, markets, and concert venues, or for people with certain health conditions." (Royal Thai Government Gazette on 23 June, 2022, and with immediate effect).

I still wear a mask in some indoor venues, including BTS and MRT. 

[gerefan]

Quite right, it’s Voluntary, except in certain circumstances where it’s mandatory. 

Another example is helmets. They are mandatory but many many Thais don’t bother.
So should we also copy their example?!

Do what seems right. If you feel the need wear one. I rarely do except when it’s mandatory.

 

[Gaybutton]

For several reasons I still wear the mask.  For me, I wear it because nearly all the Thais wear it and I live here.  Even though the mask is no longer required in public, so many places still require it that it seems pointless to me to try avoiding it.

Also, I have become so used to wearing the mask that now I feel uncomfortable and awkward if I'm not wearing it.  It's not hurting anything, so I wear it.  I take it off when driving my car or entering a restaurant.  Other than that, most of the time it's on.

One other little thing - with a face that looks like mine, I'm doing the world a favor by covering it up with the mask.  A few others around here might be kind enough to consider doing the same . . .

 

"I know I'm ugly.  On Halloween when I open the door, the kids give me candy."

-  Rodney Dangerfield

[gayinpattaya]

  On 9/26/2022 at 9:46 PM, floridarob said:

I feel naked without a mask, weird.

People complain about wearing a mask, yet wear clothes....I feel it's more a political statement than anything else....I don't get it 😏

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Will see you soon at at Cocka2. You will be the only masked person. Or did you change your flights for 2023? 
Covid is all over Pattaya. Everyone has a sniffle. Maybe cancel the flight. 

[floridarob]

  On 9/27/2022 at 9:44 PM, gayinpattaya said:

You will be the only masked person

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Perhaps you should take Gaybuttons advice:

 

One other little thing - with a face that looks like mine, I'm doing the world a favor by covering it up with the mask.  A few others around here might be kind enough to consider doing the same . . .

 

[PeterRS]

  On 9/27/2022 at 2:22 PM, gerefan said:

Another example is helmets. They are mandatory but many many Thais don’t bother.
So should we also copy their example?!

Do what seems right. If you feel the need wear one. I rarely do except when it’s mandatory.

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Whether Thais wear helmets is beside the point. They are Thais living in Thailand. Doing what feels right is also basically selfish in my view. On the Skytrain the other day, everyone in the three cars I checked was masked, including farang and all tourists, apart from three Germans who had masks on but had moved them under their chins and were chatting and laughing loudly. If the looks from the Thais on the train could kill, those guys would not have got off the train. 

[zombie]

On the subject of covering the face----if your date turns out to be not so good looking then remember the two bags rule:

Before having sex put one over his head, and a second bag over your own head in case his bag falls off.