Brisbane's Mask Rules Are Easing Again So You Can Uncover Your Face While Sitting Down

To mask or not to mask? During the pandemic, that's often been the question. In Brisbane over the past few months, you've always needed to carry a mask with you; however, the rules around that have changed more than a few times — and at 4pm today, Friday, October 8, they're changing yet again.

Brisbanites, next time you head out for a bite to eat, to have drinks or see a movie, you won't need to keep your mask on while you're seated. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has just announced the loosening of Queensland's COVID-19 restrictions, reverting back to the rules that were in place before they were last amended at the end of September. And, that means that mask rules are easing slightly as well.

Masks are still staying for now, but you'll be able to take them off when you're sitting down in public. You will still need to always carry a mask with you, of course, but you can flash that smile if you're seated in a pub, bar, restaurant, cafe, cinema or theatre.

At hospitality venues, you'll actually only need to mask up when you're entering and exiting, in another relaxation of the rules. At all other indoor sites — other than your own home — you can uncover your face once you're seated.

Mask requirements change from 4pm. #covid19 pic.twitter.com/RaSRdRfCI8

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 8, 2021

Queensland's standing mask mandate for flights, airports and stadiums still remains in place, though, so you'll always need to mask up there. And, they remain mandatory on public transport, in ride shares and while waiting for both; outdoors if you can't remain 1.5 metres away from people who aren't part of your household; and indoors in public if you're not sitting or you're not inside a hospo venue.

Queensland currently has 31 active COVID-19 cases, with zero new locally acquired case reported in the past 24 hours.

And, as always, 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.