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Health Ministry to Advocate for Nationwide Work-from-Home

Health Ministry to Advocate for Nationwide Work-from-Home

The Ministry of Public Health is set to propose a nationwide work-from-home initiative next week in response to alarming levels of PM2.5 ultrafine dust pollution, which have surpassed safe limits in nearly every province, particularly in Greater Bangkok.

Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced that a meeting would be held on Wednesday to develop strategies to address the escalating crisis. Among the suggested measures is the implementation of a nationwide work-from-home policy, which will be presented to the cabinet next week.

Minister Somsak expressed optimism that if government agencies adopt this policy, the private sector will likely follow suit. He referenced a study from the University of Chicago indicating that prolonged exposure to PM2.5 concentrations exceeding 37.5 microgrammes per cubic meter (µg/m³) could decrease life expectancy by approximately one year.

Given projections of persistently high pollution levels this year, the minister recommended that individuals wear N95 masks for optimal protection.

Data from the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda) revealed critically unhealthy PM2.5 levels in Bangkok, with the worst affected area, Nong Khaem, recording an alarming level of 146.5 µg/m³.

With hazardous pollution levels expected to continue in the capital over the next few days, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has implemented three key measures. The first measure encourages working from home; initially recommended for the start of the week, this may be extended through Friday if pollution levels remain high. To date, around 200 companies and 100,000 employees have adopted work-from-home policies, resulting in an 8% reduction in traffic during similar conditions last year.

The second measure involves creating low-emission zones (LEZs), which restrict trucks with six or more wheels from entering the Ratchadaphisek area during high PM2.5 alerts, exempting electric vehicles, natural gas vehicles, and those on the Green List.

Finally, the BMA has temporarily closed four schools, shifting to online classes.

The Pollution Control Department has cautioned that air quality throughout the country is likely to remain poor until Friday, exacerbated by stagnant air and agricultural burning. Recent reports noted unsafe PM2.5 levels in 70 of the 77 provinces, with Greater Bangkok being the most severely affected area, while adjacent Samut Sakhon reached levels as high as 144.8 µg/m³. Only seven provinces—Phangnga, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Krabi, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Mae Hong Son—reported dust levels below the government’s safe threshold of 37.5 µg/m³.

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