On the 25th of June 2022, the CCSA formally removed the requirement for face masks in outdoor settings throughout Thailand. This was met with pockets of doubt, however, a general consensus of gratitude was felt around the population. Soon, as international schools were ready to reopen after two months of summer vacation, they were given the opportunity to determine campus mask mandates and COVID regulations for themselves; the first time since the dawn of the pandemic where individual entities were given the permission to dictate their own rules.
Here, at the International School of Bangkok, the Crisis Management Team (CMT) gathered to discuss the course of action for COVID regulations during the 2022-2023 school year. The team, consisting of high-stake faculty members such as Andrew Davies; the head of school, and Mark De-Vries; the deputy head of school, agreed on lifting the mask mandate in all settings on campus apart from inside classrooms. However, as students began to exhibit their beautiful smiles, a clear division was seen within the school between those electing to sport their face masks, and those maskless. Questions arose regarding the safety of removing our masks.
Was it too soon to unmask ourselves?
How will it impact the student body?
Will COVID cases rise once again?
However, largely omitted the public's eye are questions regarding the safety of classified staff. How does the removal of masks impact them?
What are the roles of certified staff and how are they impacted?
Classified staff include those who serve our school, outside of education. This includes security guards, cafeteria staff, and our Building and Grounds workers; all members of our community who work tirelessly to ensure the seamless operation of our school. How will the removal of masks impact them, considering their constant proximity to large groups of people? According to a study conducted by the Department of Labor using a database of physical aspects related to occupations, many of the classified jobs at ISB face an elevated risk of exposure to disease due to the close, physical proximity to others. Security guards face a 16% higher chance of infection while cashiers face an added risk of 30% (Department of Labor).
Khun Pisit, a security guard who mans the turnstiles at the entrance of ISB, mentions how following the removal of the mask mandate, he seldom removes his mask due to his close proximity to large crowds of people : “It can get incredibly hot sometimes working outside, and sometimes, I take off my mask, but when it is crowded, I prefer to keep it on (Pisit).” Another aspect to consider is the comfortability of our staff considering they must serve students who are maskless: “I am not afraid of people around me not wearing masks; when I visit my family, they usually do not wear masks, but whenever it is crowded, I prefer for myself and others to cover their face,” voices Khun Pisit.
Inevitably, in order to live harmoniously in our ISB community, it is crucial to show respect to personal choices, especially to those who serve us everyday, and allow for the seamless way of life which we experience at school. Comfortability varies from person to person regarding mask use, and luckily the culture of Thailand is perfectly apt for that. Ultimately, sporting a face mask is a choice which one must make personally, however it is crucial to consider and respect the opinions of those who are putting themselves at high risk to provide services which are necessary to our community.
Work Cited