Masks Are Required Again Indoors and Outdoors in Brisbane and Moreton Bay Due to New Local Cases
The mask rules last changed just days ago, but now they've been amended again — so you'll need to mask up while sitting for the next two weeks.
Wearing masks has been a regular part of life in southeast Queensland throughout the pandemic, and since the end of June in particular. As a result, Brisbanites have seen the rules around covering your face change multiple times, including in recent months as the city has weathered multiple brief lockdowns and several stages of restrictions. And from today, Tuesday, September 28, mask requirements are changing again.
Back on Friday, September 24, the Queensland Government loosened the rules around donning masks when seated. So, for the past few days, you've been able to remove your face covering if you're sitting — even if you aren't eating and drinking. But, as COVID-19 has shown us all plenty of times now, much can change in just a couple of days. The Brisbane and Moreton Bay areas now have new locally acquired cases, and so the mask rules are going back to the requirements that were in place before last Friday.
😷Face masks must be worn at all times indoors and outdoors, unless you are able to socially distance outside.
🏥Visitor restrictions are in place for aged care, hospitals, disability accommodation and detention centres.
More info to come soon.
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) September 28, 2021
Wondering that that means? Effective immediately, you now need to don a mask indoors at all times — unless you're eating or drinking, or you're in your own home. So, if you're out of the house and you're seated, but you're not munching or sipping, those masks remain compulsory.
Need a refresher on all of the rules? Queensland has a standing mask mandate for flights, airports and stadiums, so you'll always need to mask up there — and, for the next two weeks again, they'll still be mandatory in plenty of other spots. That includes on public transport, in ride shares and while waiting for both; in all indoor spaces other than your own home, including hospitality businesses, unless you're eating and/or drinking; in schools; and also outdoors if you can't remain 1.5 metres away from people who aren't part of your household.
Also, you will still need to always carry a mask with you.
You must carry a mask whenever you leave home: wear them indoors and when social distancing isn't possible in outdoor settings.
Anyone who has been in those LGAs since 19 September cannot visit aged care, hospitals, disability accommodation and detention centres.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 28, 2021
"What we are asking is that in Brisbane City Council and Moreton Bay Regional Council [areas], we are putting back in place immediately the mask restrictions for those two councils for anyone who has been working or in those areas since 19 September, [including those] who might live outside those areas." said Queensland Health Minsiter Yvette D'Ath.
"So if you work in the city but you live outside of the Brisbane City Council and Moreton Bay Regional Council area, we ask you to also abide by these restrictions — which is wearing a mask at all times indoor and outdoors unless you are outdoors and can socially distance. This will be in place for two weeks while we work through the risks of these cases."
Queensland currently has 17 active COVID-19 cases, with four 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.
