Better safe than sorry
Thailand's very fortunate that we've had only a few cases of coronavirus to date but for-hire drivers, such as those of taxis, Grab, tour drivers and guides should wear surgical masks whenever they're in contact with others. This is to protect them from possibly becoming infected from their passengers or tour members and to lessen the chances of them infecting others.
"The biggest concern that doctors have around recommending masks is the false sense of security that might come along with wearing one. There are a lot of reasons why face masks are not ideal: It's really hard to find one that fits perfectly around your nose and mouth or to keep it on for a long period of time," webmd.com advises.
However, these drivers and guides come into contact with possibly hundreds of people daily, some of whom may be infected. Thus, they must take all possible precautions, and the cost of surgical masks is affordable.
Burin Kantabutra
Free speech is vital
Re: "Anti-graft mission failing", (Editorial, Jan 28).
The Bangkok Post quotes Transparency International's latest report that, "Thailand's slide down the Corruption Perception Index ranking from 99 to 101, while a disappointment, comes as no surprise."
The listed failures of governments merely confirm what reason dictates: That censorship and suppression of democratic principles go hand in hand with corruption and other abuses toxic to society.
People who genuinely oppose corruption in its myriad forms create strong legal protection to enable free speech that is a foundation of democracy, even when it deeply offends, so that evils can be known that they may be exorcised.
The repeated coups and unjust legal machinations against good people and good morals to prevent democracy taking hold are the reason Thailand is so backward socially, politically, morally and economically.
In every way, the good people of the Thai nation deserve much more than they have been allowed these past 70 years or so.
Felix Qui
Stop open burning
There are three main culprits for haze. Cars, factories, and the open burning of sugarcane fields. The first two need long-term solutions and are big city problems. But the third is nationwide and can be solved immediately.
Each single farmer that burns his field (mostly at night) because he can't be bothered using a safer method, hurts millions of people in turn. It is selfish and criminal. He immediately hurts the children at school, he hurts the frail and elderly, the asthmatics, and long term he hurts the prosperity and health of all Thai people and its tourists.
Overseas visitors will not plan a holiday in a country with toxic air pollution.
Come on Thailand, wake up to yourself and outlaw this insane environmental vandalism.
It can be done now. It will show the world you are doing your part on climate change.
The tourists will return.
Then it will be one down, two to go.
Eva Brooks
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