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LONDON – Public transport chiefs in the North West of England clarified the rules on face covering after a bus passenger was seen with a snake around his neck and mouth.
The passenger was seen on a Manchester-bound bus on Monday, but his fellow travelers initially believed he was wearing a colorful mask, the Manchester Evening News reported.
“At first I thought he had a very original mask, then he let it crawl down the handrails,” said a witness.
READ: How to Protect Yourself Against Snakes and Snake Bites
“No one was really upset on the bus, but a man behind took a video. It was definitely entertaining.”
Photos of the man, dressed in a white T-shirt and jeans, showed what appeared to be a python wrapped around his neck and face, but he was not wearing a mask as required underneath.
The use of face covers is mandatory on public transport in Great Britain to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by close contact.
Some exceptions are allowed, such as for people with health problems or young children.
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A spokesman for Transport for Greater Manchester said the government guidance stipulated that face coverings could be surgical masks, scarves or bandanas.
“While there is a small degree of interpretation that can be applied to this, we do not believe that it extends to the use of snake skin, especially when it is still attached to the snake,” he added.
The UK government initially resisted the use of face masks in tight spaces like shops as a preventive measure against the virus, but changed its policy as the number of cases increased.
The move sparked some opposition, but not to the same extent as in the United States.
