Australian cops slammed for checking man’s beverage to verify his excuse for not wearing Covid-19 mask — RT World News

While it is unclear when exactly the video was recorded, the clip went viral on social media on Friday and Saturday, showing several police officers confronting a man on what appears to be a park trail. One of the officers grabs the man’s coffee cup while asking, “Do you mind if I check if there’s actually anything in that?”After apparently verifying that the liquid was in the cup, he shakes it and then turns his back and tells him. “Enjoy your coffee.”

This 10-second video ends with the coffee-drinker telling police. “Jesus loves you all. God bless. I’ll be praying for you all.”

While the parkgoer dealt with the confrontation calmly and cordially, and it remains unclear when exactly the footage was recorded, online observers expressed shock over yet another example of Australia’s apparent Covid-19 “authoritarianism.”

Diogo Correa Coelho, an Australian podcast host said that the man would have been punished if police found his cup empty. He quipped about the absurdity in the beverage ban. “Coffee is known to kill Covid.”

Another Twitter user pointed out that the incident was an indicator of how severe personal freedoms were under the Covid-19 regime. One commenter tweetedYou can find this link: “Two years ago, if anybody had said, in the future, groups of police officers will be checking to see whether you are carrying an empty coffee cup to avoid wearing a mask… we would have laughed in their face.”

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Many observers pointed out the ridiculousness of supposedly protecting people against the spread of a virus by touching a man’s coffee cup while wearing a presumably dirty glove and giving it back to him. One critic said that it was absurd to touch a man’s coffee cup while wearing a glove, and then give the cup back. notedThe police officer “touched the coffee cup, thereby increasing the likelihood of transmission, all because someone is enjoying a walk – outside, where the likelihood of transmission is extremely low. But science.”

Andere made Nazi-like comparisons such as calling the Melbourne police the “coffee cup Gestapo.” One commenter argued that only in a “police state” would officers check someone’s coffee cup so they can fine the citizen for not wearing a mask if it’s empty.

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The police were apparently not given any latitude by social media users for following higher-up orders. Other observers attempted to make the overreach of police through humor. 

“I am about to go long coffee beans,”One Twitter user said “This gentleman just found another utility for java. It’s a face-diaper exemption card.”A second commenter sarcasticallyThey praised officers for their bravery and said, “If just one person is saved, it is worth losing your freedom.”

But many critics suggested that the obliteration of individual liberties in the name of fighting the pandemic won’t be easily reversed. “These people aren’t getting their freedom back unless there’s a complete turnaround of their entire government,”One commenter tweeted 

READ MORE: Melbourne breaks the world record for longest time in lockdown

Australia has imposed some of the world’s most stringent pandemic restrictions under its so-called “Covid zero”Strategy of trying to stop the spread of the virus. New South Wales’ chief health officer, Dr. Kerry Chant advised people in July not to have conversations with strangers. However, he later stated that masks could be worn by Australians for many years.

Residents of Melbourne have been subjected to the world’s longest Covid-19 lockdown, which has dragged on for more than eight months. When Victoria reached its goal of 80% in vaccinations, the restrictions were slightly eased on September 29. The state’s premier, Daniel Andrews, promised to finally lift the lockdown on October 22, when 70% of residents aged over 16 are projected to be doubled-dosed.

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