Overview
If you live in the Brisbane City Council, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim Local Government Areas, it has been some time since you've been able to flash your smile at people outside of your own home. Since the end of June, in an effort to stop the region's recent COVID-19 cases from spreading, wearing masks has been compulsory across the region — but that mandate is relaxing slightly from 4pm on Friday, August 20.
Masks were compulsory under lockdown conditions, obviously, and that requirement remained in place when Brisbane's latest lockdown ended. Come Friday, though, the rules are changing. The big shift: if you're outdoors, you'll only need to mask up if you can't socially distance.
Announcing the change — which will be accompanied by relaxed rules regarding gatherings and venues — Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said "face masks have played a big part in our ability to contain the latest clusters. A mask is a simple weapon against a complex virus." She continued: "you must wear it indoors — places like shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets, hospitals and aged care facilities — or if you are outside and unable to physically distance."
So, you'll now only be required to cover your face in indoor spaces, while waiting for or using public transport or ride share services, at schools, and if you're outdoors and can't socially distance. Also, Queensland has a standing mask mandate for flights, airports and stadiums, so you'll always need to mask up there.
And, you'll still always need to carry a mask with you.
Indoor and outdoor events and stadiums can have 75% ticketed and allocated seating capacity.
People in these local government areas must still carry a mask at all times and wear it when you are indoors, or when you are outside and unable to physically distance.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 18, 2021
At this stage, the new mask rules will apply until 4pm on Friday, August 27.
Queensland currently has 97 active COVID-19 cases, with zero new locally acquired cases reported in the past 24 hours.
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.
Southeast Queensland's COVID-19 restrictions will relax further from 4pm on Friday, August 20, including regarding masks. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.