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 coronavirus outbreak. Tourism accounts for 18 per cent of the country's gross domestic product and Chinese holidaymakers make up a quarter of total arrivals. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul was distributing masks at a busy Bangkok skytrain entrance when he complained that 'farang' tourists didn't take them and acted as if they 'don't care'. 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 February 4 stating masks are 'not needed for general public who do not have respiratory symptoms'.

Source: Daily Mail February 08, 2020 16:22 UTC