The ignorance and paranoia was off the charts with that demographic. If you were wearing anything other than a dedicated
mask - even if it was something that would more effective - they could get quite unhappy about your presence. I went to having some fun with the situation - at times wore a shemagh tied up Palestinian-style with a Russian camo-patterned jacket. Even spoke some Arabic to deepen the effect. The Karenators and pretty much every one else kept their distance when sporting that get-up, which was fine by me.