Thread by @kurteichenwald

Went to a grocery store pharmacy. Many without masks, masks worn incorrectly (below nose), ppl edging past each other. Pharmacy was next to the flower section, & unmasked people packed it. No matter what I did, people crowded next to me.

"I work in a hospital," I announced.../1

..."and I'm trying not to expose you."

The crowd backed away in every direction - ones with masks, without, worn correctly, worn incorrectly.

I figured, good time for a lesson. "You dont know who is and isnt exposed. You don't know who is and isn't contagious.../2

...you can't put on your seat belt after you crash the car. People in the hospital are putting their lives at risk every day. All we ask is that you act responsibly to decrease the number of people coming in."

I looked at an unmasked guy. "Hospital workers don't need to die.../3

...because you refuse to act responsibly. And for those of you who are wearing masks, put them over your nose. It does next to nothing if it is below your nose. And pull it up from the side"

Everyone with it below their noses pulled their masks up from the side...

..."We can get through this as a community, as a society, but not if you treat your fellow citizens as expendable and are willing to expose hospital workers to increase chance of incapacitation and death. Honor hospital workers. Behave yourselves. Six feet apart."

Everyone...

...behaved rearranged themselves, all getting six feet apart, all doing what they were supposed to."

I walked up to the pharamcy pick-up and the pharamcist, who knows me, gave me a smile and a look. "You don't..." she said quietly.

"Yup, I know."

"Thank you," she said...

...lesson: Assume everyone is exposed. Act responsibly. Take precautions correctly. Look up what to do on the CDC website.

And for God's sake - honor the people risking their lives for us. Dont be sloppy. Hospital workers don't deserve to die because we can't be bothered.

fin