Masks Will Be Mandatory in 11 Local Government Areas Around Brisbane for Another Week

In a bid to contain the most recent coronavirus outbreak, the Queensland Government mandated the wearing of masks across southeast Queensland in late June, and then extended that requirement in Brisbane and several other parts of the state until mid-July. Accordingly, wearing a mask has been part of daily Queensland life throughout this month so far — and, in 11 Local Government Areas in and around Brisbane, that's set to remain the case until at least Friday, July 23.

Earlier this week, on Monday, July 12, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk actually announced that mask rules would change across the state from 6am on Friday, July 16; however, that'll no longer be the case in the Brisbane City Council, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim LGAs. So, if that's where you live, you'll need to keep covering up whenever you leave the house for another week, as the Premier revealed today, Thursday, July 15.

If you need a refresher, the mask rules apply whenever you're spending time indoors somewhere other than your own home. In those situations, you must wear a mask. They must be worn in all indoor spaces other than your home, all indoor workplaces unless it is unsafe to do so, on public transport, and in taxis and ride share vehicles. And, outdoors, you need to wear them when social distancing isn't possible.

Premier Palaszczuk also revealed that the other changes that were due to come into effect on Friday, July 16 will no longer go ahead in the specified 11 LGAs. Instead, the existing conditions that've been in place for a fortnight will remain for another week.

The decision not to ease restrictions in and around Brisbane comes after three new locally acquired COVID-19 cases were reported in the past 24 hours. Yes, that means that the city's exposure sites list is growing again, too.

The usual requests regarding social distancing, hygiene and getting tested if you're feeling even the slightest possible COVID-19 symptoms also still apply — as they have since March last year.

For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.