As you can tell, I frequent local “discounters.” The other day at the lower Habitat store, I heard a front-line worker there commandingly say, “Sir, will you please pull your mask up over your nose.” He was appropriately assertive causing me to start, but only momentarily – my mask as usual was properly adorned. I kept moving, I didn’t want to look or stare at whoever was endangering the rest of us, on the optimistic assumption he didn’t know better.
No one should call this front-line worker a “mask Nazi” for keeping us safe. If Gene allows voting, I vote ANONYMOUS chathampatriot off this Island, the Chatlist, for his snide “mask Nazi” reference the other day.
With safety protocols violated, I didn’t linger. Snarfed one $2 tennis racquet and hit the checkout. There a different front-line worker checked me out (rang up the transaction, not ogled me). This front-line worker’s mask, while over their nose, on both sides was elevated an inch off their face between the cheek and chin bone.
Not being a scientific expert in correct mask configuration, I said nothing (aside from a muffled “thank you”).
It seems to me however that COVID could easily have been leaking out those gaps, endangering me and others. I had on only a cotton mask the Science thinks is about 60% effective (regretted not having deployed my N95).
I’ll assume that it didn’t take long for that first front-line worker to notice this safety hazard, and dress down the 2nd worker too. Being the 2nd worker could have been exhaling unfiltered COVID for hours, I assume too that the lower Habitat engaged “extended safety violation protocols” and had that worker COVID tested. I’ve not since heard from contact tracers, so fingers crossed, the test came back negative and lower Habitat remains a safe place to shop.
“I protect you Habitat, but you’ve gotta protect me too”
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2021 17:59:42 -0400
From: Douglas Sedlak
Subject: COVID measures at Habitat store, & snide chathampatriot on “mask Nazis”