VIDEO: Restaurant patrons chant 'get out!' at officials issuing COVID-19 closure order. Cheers erupt when they turn tail and leave Canadian eatery.



Customers seated inside Corduroy Restaurant in Vancouver, British Columbia, were caught on cellphone video chanting "Get out!" at health inspectors who had entered the establishment to issue closure orders over COVID-19 violations, Global News reported.

Soon after the chant began and quickly grew louder, the officials turned tail and left — after which cheering and applause erupted. The confrontation took place Saturday, CBC News said.

Vancouver By-Law - Health-Inspectors, kicked out of restaurant by supportive customers.youtu.be

What are the details?

British Columbia last Monday ordered a three-week ban on indoor dining to combat a third wave of the COVID-19 virus, Global News said, adding that a business can be fined $2,300 while individuals can be fined $575 for non-compliance — and there's a separate fine for belligerent behavior related to enforcement of COVID-19 orders.

With that, a liquor coordinator and provincial health officers entered Corduroy Restaurant and issued a a full closure order Saturday, Vancouver police told the outlet.

And video apparently of that very same event showed officials — seemingly the only people wearing masks — in the restaurant laying down the law to owner Rebecca Matthews, Global News said.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Matthews tells the officials — who are handing her numerous papers — that they're trespassing on private property and that she doesn't recognize their jurisdiction, the outlet added.

Soon diners began their "Get out!" chant. Seconds later, one of the officials turned, raised his hand at a colleague as if to signal surrender, and they walked out the door.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Cheers and applause quickly followed.

Matthews told Global News she intends to continue defying the ban since she needs the income from her business to feed her family. She added that the province is unfairly targeting restaurants while allowing other businesses to stay open, the outlet noted.

Matthews added to Global News that she doesn't see a difference between indoor and outdoor dining. And during a "save small business" rally Friday, she questioned the reliability of COVID-19 testing and called for the end of restrictions she said were doing more harm than the virus, the outlet reported.

What do the powers that be have to say?

Vancouver Coastal Health told Global News that "any alleged violations of closure orders are taken very seriously and are thoroughly investigated."

Health Minister Adrian Dix added to the outlet that he's "frustrated with the behavior [at the restaurant]. No one misunderstands the rules. We are enforcing that closure order, and it is being enforced right now, and it will be enforced."

Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth on Saturday called Corduroy Restaurant's non-compliance "disgraceful" and said besides receiving fines businesses also can have their liquor or business licenses pulled.

Here's another clip of the "Get out!" chant:

HSBC threatens to close bank accounts of customers who refuse to wear face masks



London-based HSBC has threatened to shut down customers' bank accounts if they refuse to mask up during visits to the bank's U.K. branches.

What are the details?

According to a Thursday report from the Daily Mail, the bank announced this week that it reserves the right to cancel the accounts of any customer who will not wear a face mask in its branch offices.

In a statement, Jackie Uhi, HSBC U.K.'s head of branch network, said, "Sadly, some people are failing to protect themselves, our branch colleagues, and other customers by refusing to wear a face covering inside our branches or observe social distancing. Our colleagues deserve respect and should not have to face violent or abusive behavior. Consider whether you need to visit the branch or could manage your banking form the safety of your own home via our digital channels."

Uhi added that the bank reserves the right to "withdraw [the] account" of any customer who violates the government guidelines.

Uhi's statement added, "If you do visit us, please wear a face covering and maintain a safe distance from others. If individuals put themselves or our colleagues at risk, without a medical exemption, we reserve the right to withdraw their account."

According to the U.K's Sun, banks, at the time of this reporting, are permitted to stay open during the country's third lockdown as they "provide essential financial services."

"But as part of government guidelines, banks and building societies are included in the list of public places where you must wear a face mask," the outlet notes. "There are scenarios where you may be allowed to take off your covering, for example, if bank staff need to see your face for identification purposes."

A spokesperson for HSBC told the outlet that it hasn't yet been forced to close down any accounts due to a violation of face mask regulations.