That’s Coconuts: Bali parking attendant ordered to do push-ups for wearing shell as mask

Almost 18 months into the COVID-19 pandemic, we sure thought we’ve seen it all when it comes to mask creativity. But one parking attendant in Bali showed us there’s more to see after all with his coconutty handiwork, even though it doesn’t quite meet the protection standards against the coronavirus. 

A man identified as Nengah Budiasa, who works as a parking attendant in Denpasar, has been wearing half a coconut shell on his face for a mask. Parking attendants across Indonesia are usually equipped with a whistle, and Nengah appears to have fashioned the instrument to fit a hole in the middle of the shell, which means he can blow it without having to remove the entire “mask.” Talk about efficiency. 

Alas, Nengah’s coconut shell mask still does not meet the standard requirements for protection against the coronavirus, and officers from the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) have since provided him with the correct alternative. 

“We have educated him to follow health protocols accordingly,” Satpol PP Denpasar Chief, Dewa Anom Sayoga, said.

With Bali’s mandatory mask rule still very much in place, Nengah was subjected to administrative sanctions and was told to do push-ups on the spot as punishment yesterday. 

“He didn’t intend to violate the rules, but the mask he’s been using is improper because it’s not what the government recommends. So we have helped him out by giving him the [right] masks.”

The Health Ministry recommends the use of surgical masks, as well as respirators such as N95 and KN95. 

The 44-year-old garnered attention from local residents in the area recently for his coconut shell mask, and he previously said the inventive mask was a more comfortable alternative that also allows him to speak more clearly. Nengah said he started wearing it after people suggested that he ditch his dirty reusable surgical masks.

With coconut shell masks not recommended for use, why not grab the next best thing? That, of course, being the Coconuts “I CAN’T EVEN” face mask, which you can order via The Coconuts Shop.

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