Confronting moment a Woolworths shopper with his mask hanging around his chin 'explodes like a firecracker' after he is told to wear it correctly
An angry Woolworths shopper exploded 'like a firecracker' when he was asked by other customers to wear his mask properly.
Police were called to the Neutral Bay Woolworths on Sydney's Lower North Shore just after 2pm on Monday, after receiving reports the man was yelling at shoppers.
In distressing footage captured by a witness, two customers approached the man and asked why he was wearing his mask around his chin instead of over his mouth and nose.
Police were called to the Neutral Bay Woolworths just after 2pm on Monday after receiving reports of a man yelling and screaming at other shoppers
'It was quite disturbing – a gentleman said to this guy politely "mate do you mind putting your mask over your face" and the response was he basically exploded like a firecracker,' the witness told the Daily Telegraph.
The witness said the disgruntled shopper was yelling and screaming to the point where he tried to shirt-front one of the shoppers at the front of the store.
'There were a lot of people around at the time and particularly some of the older people looked pretty intimidated and distressed,' they said.
The man continued to cause a scene, allegedly getting into an argument with another shopper outside the store just a few minutes later.
In footage of the second incident, the man is heard yelling at one of the shoppers, saying 'don't come up to me'.
The furious shopper then told security monitoring the store that three men were 'hassling' him.
The man continued shopping as witnesses to the scene were 'taken aback'.
It is not known whether the shopper had a medical exemption for not wearing his mask over his face.
The man was reported to police but no infringements were issued.
The man was approached by other customers in the store who asked why he was wearing his mask around his chin instead of his mouth, causing him to explode 'like a firecracker'
Woolworths said the company asked customers to treat each other with respect as they 'work through this difficult time together'.
'In line with government requirements, we expect customers attending our NSW stores to wear a face mask', it said.
'We have prominent signage and in-store radio prompts to remind customers of this requirement.'
NSW Health orders state that during the current lockdown, people in Sydney mast wear a face mask in all non-residential indoor settings and can only remove it for approved reasons.
Those include eating and drinking, communicating with someone who is hard of hearing, in an emergency situation, doing strenuous exercise or if asked to do so.
An exemption is permitted if a person has a physical, mental, or medical condition.
WHEN ARE YOU ALLOWED TO REMOVE YOUR FACE MASK?
If you are:
- eating or drinking
- communicating with another person who is deaf or hard of hearing
- at work and the nature of the work makes the wearing of a fitted face covering a risk to the person's, or another persons' health and safety
- where clear enunciation or visibility of your mouth is essential
- asked to remove their mask for identity purposes
- in an emergency situation
- when the removal of a face mask is necessary for the provision of a good or service e.g. a facial or a beard trim
- doing strenuous exercise (except when you are in a gym class or a dance class)
- at a correctional centre, place of custody, or hospital in a school or early education and care facility
- a resident at an aged care were facility
- a guest in a hotel/motel room and in your room
- on a construction site
- in the process of getting married
- working alone in an office (until another person enters)
- in a vehicle alone or with another person from your household
Source: NSW Health