BANGKOK: Thailand’s health minister lashed out at “Western” tourists on Friday for not wearing face masks and suggested they be expelled from the country for putting others at risk during the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak. Thailand has detected 25 coronavirus cases and nine of those patients have recovered, while streets, public transport and shopping centres have filled with people wearing face masks. “These kinds of people, we should kick them out of Thailand,” he told reporters, waving a handful of masks in the air. More than 10 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand last year but the industry projects about two million fewer arrivals in 2020 because of the coronavirus, making US, European and other markets more vital. Health experts generally agree masks are useful if you have respiratory symptoms or are caring for patients.

Source: New Strait Times February 07, 2020 08:37 UTC