Tour guides who have been left without jobs amid plunging tourism due to the coronavirus have been employed making face masks in Thailand.<br /><br />Tens of thousands of people have lost their work after coronavirus decimated tourism, closing bars, restaurants, shopping malls and cancelling most flights to the country.<br /><br />However, the company, Thai Silk Village in Chiang Mai province, has started an initiative to employ some of those affected and produce much-needed face masks that may help to protect against the virus.<br /><br />Footage from this morning (March 22nd) shows locals using sewing machines to produce the colourful silk face masks.<br /><br />The masks are made from two types of cloth - the colourful Muslin silk on outside while soft cotton is on the inside.<br /><br />Former tour guide Penkhae Khumsa said she did not want to complain about losing her job and instead wanted to now use her time productively.<br /><br />She said: "The spreading of coronavirus has caused many tour guides to lose their jobs, including me. <br /><br />"I was devastated by this critical situation but whining about it will not make me feel better so I decided to do this, which helps others, too.''
