A man in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, has been spotted traveling on public transport with an altogether unusual face covering: a live snake.
The BBC reports that the commuter donned his "reptilian mask," which was wrapped around his mouth and neck, while traveling from Swinton into Manchester on Monday.
One passenger revealed that she thought the passenger was merely wearing a "funky mask", until the mask in question began to slither over hand rails.
The eyewitness, who told the BBC she wished to remain anonymous, said she found the incident "really funny", noting that the snake didn't seem to be distressing any other passengers aboard the Swinton to Manchester bus.
"No-one batted an eyelid." She added.
The use of a face covering on public transport in England is mandatory, except for children under the age of 11 or those who are exempt on the grounds of health or disability.
A spokesperson for Transport for Greater Manchester said of the ruling and its association with the reptilian face covering:
"Government guidance clearly states that this needn't be a surgical mask, and that passengers can make their own or wear something suitable, such as a scarf or bandana.
"While there is a small degree of interpretation that can be applied to this, we do not believe it extends to the use of snakeskin - especially when still attached to the snake."
Bill Nye, best known as Bill Nye the Science Guy, previously broke down the science behind face masks and why they're important during the pandemic in a series of TikTok videos.
“The reason we want you to wear a mask is to protect you. Sure,” Nye says towards the end of the video.
“But the main reason we want you to wear a mask is to protect me from you and the particles from your respiratory system from getting into my respiratory system.
“Everybody, this is a matter – literally – of life and death. And when I use the word ‘literally’, I mean ‘literally’ a matter of life and death.
“So when you’re out in public, please wear a mask.”
You can read more about that, and watch his videos, here.
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