Covid 19 coronavirus: Fullers ferry stopped after disturbing passenger refuses to wear mask

A Fullers ferry stopped mid-journey when a passenger refused to wear a mask and began arguing with other passengers.

Will Ryan, who posted part of the incident on Facebook, said he believed he had the right not to wear a mask, something that is required under level 2 restrictions.

He received a lot of support from the people who commented on the video, but the staff and passengers on board the ferry were not impressed by his actions and urged him to wear a mask to keep himself and others safe.

Epidemiologist Michael Baker agrees, saying that travelers should wear masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and that people should realize that there are limits to their actions when it comes to public health.

“People have to say: ‘My right to do what I want, when I want, where I want has its limits.’

“If you share the same air as other people [in a public setting], doesn’t smoke and wears a mask. “

The viral video, which has since been removed from Facebook, shows Ryan arguing with passengers aboard the ferry about his refusal to wear a mask.

Fullers staff members come over to ask him why he is not wearing a mask, he responds that it is for medical reasons and it is not “the law”.

While the country is at alert level 2 and above, it is mandatory for people traveling on buses, planes, trains, and ferries to wear a face shield to protect themselves and others.

Only someone with a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask or covering their face safely or comfortably is exempt from wearing a mask.

The situation escalates when Ryan repeatedly refuses to wear a mask and yells at his fellow travelers, before the ferry comes to a complete stop when the Master takes care of the situation.

“Put on a mask so we can go home,” says an exasperated passenger, as the stalemate continues.

A spokeswoman for Fullers360 said police were later alerted to the situation in accordance with company protocol.

“In accordance with our Standard Operating Procedure, situations of this nature [disruptive passenger] they are elevated to the Master, who is ultimately responsible for the safety of everyone on board, “he said.

“While the Captain was talking to the passenger, the craft stopped for approximately three minutes. He was given a mask and reminded of the mandatory nature of wearing a face cover on public transportation.

Fullers has also implemented physical distancing aboard its ferries and hand sanitizer stationed aboard all vessels and docks, as well as hand soap in the restrooms.

“The safety of our passengers is our priority and we are truly proud of our crew for responding to this situation with such professionalism,” said the Fullers360 spokeswoman.

“Our team did everything it was required to do, followed the guidelines, and overall did a brilliant job responding to the individual.”

Public health expert Michael Baker said the incident was an example of the current challenges facing public health interventions.

“People tend to react to things that are unfamiliar to them,” he said.

“Change is difficult. But there are many examples where people initially resisted something that they now take as a fact of life.

“Smoke-free bars are one example: there was a time when people thought they had the right to light a cigarette and now it is completely unacceptable to the people around them.”

And just physical distancing aboard public transportation isn’t enough, Baker said.

“By far the main way the virus spreads is through respiratory and aerosol droplets. If someone coughs or sneezes, those droplets can spread for many meters – one sneeze can fill an entire small room in seconds.

“If you wear a mask, it stops the firing of those drops, it’s effective for source control.”

A police spokeswoman said officers were alerted to the situation after a report by a person not covering his face.

“Police continue to take an education and encouragement approach and to date no infractions have been issued,” he said.

“Public response to the rules on the use of face covers in public transportation remains overwhelmingly positive and compliance has been high.”

While many see putting on a mask on public transportation as doing their part for the public good, while Covid-19 continues to spread rapidly abroad, others could take longer to see the benefits, Baker said.

“New Zealand has escaped the worst of the pandemic, our lives have not been ruined as it has been abroad,” he said.