As Thailand reopens Test and Go to tourists, Covid Center warns national public mask mandate-including outdoors-remains in effect

PHOTO: Thairath

Thailand-

  Today, February 1st, 2022, is the first day of Thailand allowing registration for an altered Test and Go program to resume after a roughly month-and-a-half suspension due to concerns around the Omicron Covid-19 variant.

We have covered this process in other articles and are going to use this article to highlight a reminder from the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) in Bangkok, Thailand’s central Covid-19 decision-making group, around masks.

The CCSA reminded the public through social media this morning that although test and go was resuming and tourists/visitors were expected to gradually return, a sweeping mask mandate in all public areas-including OUTSIDE- across ALL of Thailand remains in effect.  The CCSA wanted to highlight this due to what they called “miscommunication” between visitors, especially since some may visit from countries without mandates or different mask-wearing rules. TPN notes that although many countries have rules around masks, not as many mandate them outdoors.

In Thailand, masks must be worn in ALL public areas, inside AND outside.  This includes even being alone outside in parks, beaches, sidewalks, etc.  It also includes driving motorbikes or being inside a car with more than one person. As a general rule, according to the CCSA, if you step outside your home/hotel/abode you should be wearing a mask at all times. Technically speaking, there is not even an exception for exercise.

Fines can be up to 20,000 baht, reminded the CCSA, on an increasing scale for each offense. Of course, enforcement of the fines and mandates could vary greatly.

TPN notes that prior to Omicron limited discussion was taking place with the Ministry of Public Health around “easing” the mask rules outdoors, especially on beaches and public areas popular with foreign tourists, but at this time that has not happened and all such discussions around easing the mask mandate have been put on hold indefinitely. There have been numerous reports recently of various government officials, especially in Phuket, frustrated with alleged non-mask wearing by tourists on public streets and public areas.

 

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Adam Judd
Mr. Adam Judd is the Co-owner of TPN Media since December 2017. He is originally from Washington D.C., America, but has also lived in Dallas, Sarasota, and Portsmouth. His background is in retail sales, HR, and operations management, and has written about news and Thailand for many years. He has lived in Pattaya for over nine years as a full-time resident, is well known locally and been visiting the country as a regular visitor for over a decade. His full contact information, including office contact information, can be found on our Contact Us page below. Stories please e-mail Editor@ThePattayanews.com About Us: https://thepattayanews.com/about-us/ Contact Us: https://thepattayanews.com/contact-us/