A tavern in Elgin, Texas, a town of about 10,000 people, is taking an unusual approach to the issue of wearing masks as the coronavirus pandemic drags on.

Rather than requiring customers to wear masks, a sign outside the Liberty Tree Tavern advises that anyone feeling sick enough to wear a mask should go home.

“Due to our concern for our citizens, if they feel the need to wear a mask, then they should probably stay home until it’s safe,” the sign reads.

So far, 52 Elgin residents have tested positive for COVID-19, the infectious disease that’s associated with the coronavirus pandemic. At least one resident is skeptical about the tavern’s stance.

“I think that’s a risk,” said Ross Owens. “They’re taking chances they don’t need to take, especially if they’re in public service.”

But the bar’s co-owner, Kevin Smith, seems to like thumbing his nose at the powers that be.

“It’s more of a pushback,” he told KSAN, in an interview. “The snitches and the contact tracers out there. This is still a rural county.”

Hopefully this kind of orneriness won’t result in additional illnesses, but Smith said he is sticking to social distancing guidelines that were recommended by the CDC, however.

Up and down Main Street, where the tavern is located, some businesses are requiring customers to wear masks, while others are asking people to wear them at their own discretion.

“I don’t know anyone personally, and I know a lot of people, that’s gotten the virus or has died,” said Sherrill Schier, owner of ETX Travel on North Main Street. “People are just comfortable. We’re a small town, we don’t have a lot of crowds. We are okay.”

Texas governor Jack Abbott has slowly been lifting restrictions but bars that reopen are still expected to limit their occupancy to 25 percent.

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