Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul hands out masks to skytrain passengers at Siam station on Friday. (Photo: Anutin Charvirakul Facebook account)Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul apologised on Friday after he criticised "Western tourists" for not wearing face masks and suggested they be expelled from the country for putting others at risk during the coronavirus outbreak. Health experts generally agree masks are useful if you have respiratory symptoms or are caring for patients. But the World Health Organization's own Thailand office tweeted a graphic on Feb 4 stating masks are "not needed for general public who do not have respiratory symptoms". Tourism accounts for 18% of Thailand's gross domestic product and Chinese holidaymakers make up a quarter of total arrivals.

Source: Bangkok Post February 07, 2020 08:59 UTC