Face Masks Will Remain Mandatory in Some Situations in Greater Brisbane Until April 15
Just like after January's lockdown, you'll need to keep wearing them indoors, on public transport, while using taxis and ride share services, and wherever you can't social distance.
In a bid to contain the latest coronavirus outbreak, the Queensland Government has mandated the wearing of masks across Greater Brisbane since 5pm on Monday, March 29, covering folks in the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands local government areas during the region's three-day lockdown. Now that those stay-at-home conditions are coming to an end today, Thursday, April 1 — and five hours early, too — the rules around covering your face are also changing. You'll still need to mask up more often than not, though.
At the moment, masks are mandatory unless you're at home (which you can only leave for one of four permitted reasons). When 12pm hits and you can mosey beyond your own front door whenever you like, the mask rules will loosen — but covering your face will still be compulsory in a number of circumstances, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced today.
These new rules will be in place for the next 14 days, so until at least 12pm on Thursday, April 15. That puts them in line with other venue and gathering caps that are coming into effect when lockdown ends. And yes, if this sound familiar, that's because the same thing happened after January's lockdown.
Accordingly, if you're spending time indoors somewhere other than your house after midday today, you'll need to 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, in taxis and ride share vehicles, and outdoors when social distancing isn't possible. This means that you will always have to carry a mask with you, even if you're somewhere that doesn't require you to pop one on at that very moment.
And, the mask rules don't just apply in the Greater Brisbane area, but across the entire state – with wearing masks mandated statewide earlier in the week in line with Brisbane's lockdown.
People affected by a medical condition are exempt from the mask requirements, as are children under 12. You're also allowed to temporarily remove your mask for eating and drinking, and if it's necessary for your job.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website. More details about the lockdown, masks and associated restrictions can also be found on the Queensland Health website.
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