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Wednesday 9 June 2021
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Standards drop in virus fight VISITORS and locals on the southern Mornington Peninsula appear to be taking a relaxed approach to the rules around COVID-19 safety. A Portsea resident complained that people there, and in Sorrento, were treating the area as a “get-outof-jail-free card” by congregating in groups, chatting face-to-face, and ignoring mask rules. “All you need to do is drive and walk around and have a look,” he said. “It is an absolute joke with nobody wearing masks outdoors in any capacity, and gathering at the coffee shops every day, especially the one at Portsea pier from 8.45-10am. “Point Nepean National Park is being used for freedom purposes with no rules apparent.” When the two towns were visited by The News many people on the street were not wearing masks. Workers at Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Yawa aquatic centre in Rosebud were photographed standing in groups with masks on their chins under tucked under their noses. The Portsea resident, who asked not to be named, said streets had filled up again after the lockdown extension last week. “Builders continue to work but wear no masks while doing so. Neighbours are having family members coming and going and others are still having dinners and catch ups.” The resident said people “need to stop being so entitled and selfish when the minority are trying to do the right thing”. Stephen Taylor
False reviews: Hastings cafe proprietor Jenny Sok obeyed the face mask rules and felt the wrath of a recalcitrant customer online. Picture: Gary Sissons
Trolls try for lockdown revenge Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au A HASTINGS cafe proprietor was targeted by online trolls last week for simply doing the right thing. Pitstop Cafe’s Jenny Sok, who has run the Frankston-Flinders Road eatery for five years, was trolled on social media after asking a customer to put on a face mask before entering her busi-
ness one day last week. The customer told her he was not wearing a mask for medical reasons and refused to comply before leaving the shop and posting complaints about the incident on the Reignite Democracy Australia Facebook page. Other anti-maskers followed up with negative reviews and criticised her business for being discriminatory. The episode so upset Ms Sok that she
closed her cafe for the day. “That guy never said he has a medical condition at all when he comes to the shop,” she said. “Our shop always allows people to walk in without a face mask with a medical condition.” The episode was repeated on Monday when another customer entered the shop saying he would not wear a mask for medical reasons.
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“This is very hard for us. In previous lockdowns we have not had any problems,” Ms Sok said. Regular customers rallied to support the business on social media with Mitch Owun posting: “You are sadly a business that is the victim of an agenda. Hopefully you can get it sorted out. Doesn’t look like too much reputational damage has been done.” Joel Hill: “They don’t have a medi-
cal condition, don’t worry. They use the exemptions as a way of making a political point. Almost none of these people have a valid reason not to wear masks and they bully good people like you who play by the rules.” Alicia Wilson: “They’re from the Reignite Democracy anti-vax page. I saw someone share your link and encourage others to leave false reviews. So infuriating …”
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