Thailand, touted as “the land of smiles” for tourism, continues to cling to the mask despite the end of all covid-19 restrictions six months ago due to social pressure and high pollution rates.
The Thais themselves put forward a bouquet of social, health and economic reasons for maintaining its use, which was mandatory outdoors between April 2021 and June 2022, while experts consulted by EFE point out that there are still no studies on this issue.
The face mask, which Thais were already using since September 2019 as a result of the seasonal problem of air pollution, is still a constant in the country, with special emphasis on Bangkok.
It is common to see capital city dwellers wearing the mask while walking outdoors, despite authorities only recommending its use “in crowded or poorly ventilated places” since the end of the emergency decree and restrictions in October 2022.
The use is even more noticeable among users of the elevated train system that vertebrates the metropolis, whose company periodically reminds through voice announcements that its use is “recommended”.
A picture already forgotten in many countries and which attracts the attention of tourists – most of them without masks – who ask themselves: “What is going on in Thailand?
A question on which there are still no studies, says Wonpen Keawpan, an academic at Mahidol University, who has studied the widespread use of masks in Thailand during the pandemic, and admits that it is an “interesting” subject to investigate in the future.
SOCIAL PRESSURE
Among the ten Thais consulted by EFE in the capital, the social factor predominates as a reason for maintaining the use of the mask.
“When everyone wears it and I don’t, I feel uncomfortable. Sometimes they look at me and although they don’t say anything, I don’t like it,” notes Jiratchaya Tuila, a 16-year-old student, who regularly wears the mask as she is “used to it” and feels “safer.”
“In public places, with lots of people, I wear it because I don’t want other people wearing masks to feel uncomfortable,” says Jiraporn, 32.
Reasons agreed on by several Thais, such as Siwaporn, 36, who says she continues to wear it “simply because everyone else wears it,” or Booranin, a 33-year-old lawyer, who believes that “social pressure” is one of the main reasons.
“It feels strange to get on the (elevated) train and not have the mask on,” remarks Siwaporn, asserting that “personally, she doesn’t want to wear it anymore.”
AIR POLLUTION
Another reason that stands out is the concern about the high levels of air pollution that the country is experiencing these months due to the agricultural burning period – prohibited by law but allowed by the authorities.
In March, the Department of Disease Control said that in the first five days of January more than 1.32 million Thais fell ill as a result of high levels of air pollution.
“Pollution is very high (…) I think the mask is a good protection against dust and pollution,” says Chanpen, 57, who does not forget his face mask “whenever he goes out of the house.”
Palita, a 32-year-old doctor, argues that “pollution” is the main reason why she still uses this protective measure, which she also puts on her young son: “I don’t want him to get sick from the pollution”.
On March 12, the quiet northern city of Chiang Mai – with around 1 million inhabitants – topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities, ahead of Lahore, Hanoi and Delhi, according to the Air Visual portal.
HEALTH AND JOBS
Although covid-19 seems to be a thing of the past, some people are still conscientious about keeping themselves safe from the virus.
“I use it for health, so I don’t catch a cold (…) Besides, I’ve gotten used to it and don’t have to wear makeup,” says Pravethida, 23, an office worker.
Chatchaya, 32, agrees, who feels “safer (with a mask) in case there is someone (nearby) coughing”, although she admits that she usually takes off her mask “in open places”.
A choice that some Thais do not have, such as Soontorn, a 54-year-old security guard, who is required by his company to continue wearing a mask, although in his daily life he “does not use it”.
According to World Health Organization data, Thailand recorded 4.7 million confirmed cases and more than 33,900 deaths between January 3, 2020 and March 16, 2020, and has a high percentage of the population fully vaccinated.