Buddhist statues at a Thai airport were covered with face masks as tourists begin to return to the country.

Airport workers placed white surgical masks over the noses and mouths of the giant statues housed inside Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok on December 14.

Authorities called the campaign 'Even Giants Wear Mask' and was launched by the Ministry of Public Health at several airports in the country.
Sutheerawat Suwannawat, director of Suvarnabhumi Airport, said the campaign hopes to remind everyone to wear masks properly.

He said: "If people do not wear masks, the risk of getting COVID-19 is 90 per cent, but if people wear masks the risk of getting COVID-19 is only 15 per cent.

"We made this campaign so that it will stimulate Thais to wear a mask every time they get out of the house to prevent the spread of the virus.”

He added that the giant religious sculptures, known as 'Yaks', wore huge masks to enforce the strict policies in protecting people against COVID-19 as foreigners enter the country.

Thermal temperature scans, disease scanning and mandatory 14-day quarantine are also in place in airports across Thailand.

Several alcohol spraying stations are also spread inside the structure so visitors can always clean their hands.

Tourists have been allowed to apply for a certificate to enter the country since July but visa restrictions have been eased this month.

Thailand has ranked one of the highest in a global survey for its effective handling of the pandemic and recovery from the crisis.