New parents wearing masks get kicked out of Texas restaurant

[Stevicus]

New parents wearing masks get kicked out of Texas restaurant (msn.com)

A couple were kicked out of a Texas restaurant last week after they refused to take off the masks, which they say they were wearing to protect their newborn immunocompromised baby back home.

Natalie Wester and her husband, Jose, went to Hang Time, a restaurant and bar in the northern Dallas suburb of Rowlett with a few friends on September 11, when they say staff members told them they could not wear their masks indoors.

Wester said she tried to explain how her son is immunocompromised, when a waitress told them that if they had a problem with the policy they could leave - which they did.

Now, the owner of the bar and grill is defending his no-mask policy, calling mask-wearing an 'overall reaction' and saying he will continue to enforce the policy in an interview with CBS DFW.

Overall, my attitude throughout all this is that, if people refuse to follow the CDC or other public health guidelines (and if the laws in their jurisdiction allow it), then they do so at their own risk. If there are people out there who seemingly want to throw caution to the four winds, then at least it's good to know who and where they are so I know enough to stay away.

I think the couple here did the right thing. They could have argued about it and stood up for their right to wear a mask, but in doing so, they might have put themselves at greater risk of infection by being around people who might very well have the virus without realizing it. So, they just left.

Wester said she and Jose went to the restaurant last Saturday to meet up with a few friends - a rare outing for the couple since their son, Austin, was born four months ago.

'If you've ever been new parents, having those couple of hours out like once or twice a month is so important for your mental health,' she told the local CBS affiliate.

But when she got there, she posted on Facebook, the hostess asked her and her husband to take their masks off.

'The music was loud, so I just assumed she wanted to see our faces for our IDs,' Wester wrote. 'She again said something about taking the mask off, [but] because I couldn't hear her very well, I brushed it off.'

Wester and her husband then sat down at a table, ordered some drinks and an appetizer, she said, but about half an hour later, her waitress sits down next to her, saying 'Our manager told me to come over here because I am nicer than he is - but this is political, and I need you to take your masks off.'

'She said that the mask "doesn't work, is like using a chain-link fence to keep out mosquitoes and doesn't give people enough oxygen,"' Wester recounted in her post.

The mom said that when Austin was born they found out he had cystic fibrosis - a genetic disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs, digestive system and other organs.

'Cystic fibrosis is a very life threatening disorder,' Wester continued, 'and if my son were to contract COVID, he would need to be hospitalized.'

So, she said, 'when my husband and I are out, which is not often, we choose to wear a mask.'

'I informed my waitress of this information,' she said, 'and she told me she could close my check for me if it was an issue.

'Fine,' Wester said. 'My husband and I left without a scene.'

Now, though, the owner, only identified by CBS as 'Tom,' is defending his no-mask policy, telling CBS DFW his restaurant is a private business and he has every right to refuse service to a customer.

'I have spent my money on the business, my blood, sweat and tears in this business, and I don't want masks in here,' he said, adding: 'I feel the overall reaction with masks is ridiculous in the United States right now.'

His restaurant does not have any signs warning customers about the policy, CBS DFW reports, so the hostess tells everyone to take their masks off when they enter.

'So when they put their masks on the other night, they were reminded that at the front to take it off,' he said of Wester and her husband. 'They didn't want to, and so we asked them to leave.'

Tom said he was unaware they had an immunocompromised baby, but he strongly believes people cannot wear masks in his business - a rule he said he will continue to enforce.

I honestly don't see how customers wearing masks should impact on the restaurant. The owner doesn't like masks, but to say "nobody can wear a mask in my restaurant" is irresponsible.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

New parents wearing masks get kicked out of Texas restaurant (msn.com)



Overall, my attitude throughout all this is that, if people refuse to follow the CDC or other public health guidelines (and if the laws in their jurisdiction allow it), then they do so at their own risk. If there are people out there who seemingly want to throw caution to the four winds, then at least it's good to know who and where they are so I know enough to stay away.

I think the couple here did the right thing. They could have argued about it and stood up for their right to wear a mask, but in doing so, they might have put themselves at greater risk of infection by being around people who might very well have the virus without realizing it. So, they just left.

I honestly don't see how customers wearing masks should impact on the restaurant. The owner doesn't like masks, but to say "nobody can wear a mask in my restaurant" is irresponsible.

Well, business owners can do whatever they like. It's pretty much the same thing as someone not wanting to wear a mask but the restaurant owner has mask-policies. It's up to the owner regardless if the complaint comes from those who don't wear masks and those who do.

Another is usually restaurants don't enforce masks because they know you're about to eat and most likely with people you know. However, bars where dancing and mingling happen and things like that may be a different story.

 

[exchemist]

New parents wearing masks get kicked out of Texas restaurant (msn.com)



Overall, my attitude throughout all this is that, if people refuse to follow the CDC or other public health guidelines (and if the laws in their jurisdiction allow it), then they do so at their own risk. If there are people out there who seemingly want to throw caution to the four winds, then at least it's good to know who and where they are so I know enough to stay away.

I think the couple here did the right thing. They could have argued about it and stood up for their right to wear a mask, but in doing so, they might have put themselves at greater risk of infection by being around people who might very well have the virus without realizing it. So, they just left.





I honestly don't see how customers wearing masks should impact on the restaurant. The owner doesn't like masks, but to say "nobody can wear a mask in my restaurant" is irresponsible.

Well that's Texarse for you.

I was jolly pleased to get on the plane when my 2 years there were up.

 

[metis]

Under Abbott and the other Pubs there, Texas is staunchly pro-death.