With a sweeping new mask mandate requiring face cover on all public transportation, airplanes, and in federal buildings, clashes over masking are inevitable.
Only, in New Jersey, two separate incidents saw customers not being penalized for refusing to wear face coverings, but the opposite.
According to NorthJersey.com, brothers Rob and William Joseph were kicked off a United flight for wearing a Narwall full-face mask.
The Narwall Mask, which costs $ 85, includes a polycarbonate face shield and a secure, airtight seal modeled after a snorkel mask.Credit to Narwall Mask
And a gym attendee was turned away from his local Planet Fitness in Union for wearing a surgical mask instead of a cloth mask, according to ABC7 New York.
Incidents of shoppers arguing with store managers over mask policies have recently gone viral (even Bruce Willis chose that fight). Yet few have made headlines for wearing too much protection.
The Joseph brothers were planning to board a flight to Florida at 11:00 a.m. on January 23, when United employees stopped them. They tried to explain that the $ 85 Narwall masks include a highly efficient filter and are specifically designed for high-risk situations, but they were kicked off the run instead.
“Is it crazy? Absolutely. Is it something you want to see in public? Not exactly,” said Rob Joseph, a Mahwah resident, of the masks that were modeled after a snorkeling headset, according to NorthJersey.com. To have peace of mind for me and my family, I’m willing to look a bit to get down there safely. “
The Narwall Mask, which costs $ 85, includes a polycarbonate face shield and a secure, airtight seal modeled after a snorkel mask.Credit to Narwall Mask
A United spokesperson told NJ Advance Media that the Narwall masks had violated mask policy.
“We do not accept that particular mask as it could potentially create certain barriers in emergency scenarios, such as preventing clear communication between customers and crew members,” said the spokesman.
In Union, no fancy headgear was involved. The gym dispute was simply cloth masks versus surgical masks, both ubiquitous across the state.
Jordan Binenstock told ABC7 that he was sent away from the door for wearing a surgical mask, the same type he saw Gov. Phil Murphy wear at his press conferences.
“It’s so downright stupid if you don’t mind me saying this,” said Binenstock, according to ABC7. ‘It just doesn’t make any sense. The whole time it made no sense. “
Unlike United, which holds out, Planet Fitness tried a mea culpa.
“The safety and wellbeing of our employees and members remains our number one priority,” said a statement from Planet Fitness sent to NJ Advance Media. “We can confirm that members and guests are allowed to wear disposable surgical masks in our New Jersey clubs, in accordance with local and national guidelines.”
The club adhered to state guidelines specifying cloth masks, which have since been updated with the use of surgical masks, the statement read.
Murphy’s Executive Order to Reopen Gyms in August “requires employees and customers to wear cloth face coverings while in the interior of the property.”
Later, however, the same warrant also contains a provision that “nothing in the stated policy should prevent employees or customers from wearing a surgical grade mask or other more protective face covering if the individual already owns such equipment.”
Regardless, the club will allow surgical masks in the future.
“Local club management will contact Mr. Binenstock to apologize for the misunderstanding and we hope to welcome him back as a member to Planet Fitness,” the company said.
Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today NJ.com.
Josh Axelrod can be reached at [email protected]. Tell us your coronavirus story or send us a tip here.