Southeast Queensland's Current Mask Rules Will Remain in Place for Another Fortnight

Overview

Today, Friday, September 10, marks a fortnight since Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last announced a change to Queensland's COVID-19 restrictions, and also confirmed that the rules around masks were remaining in place in many situations. At the time, the Premier advised that the new requirements would be effective for at least two weeks, and that they'd be assessed fortnightly moving forward. We've now reached that first review point — and all the current settings are staying for now, the Queensland Government has just revealed.

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, although that mandate relaxed slightly in mid-August. The rules that've been in place since then aren't going anywhere for now, though, so you'll still be hiding that grin until at least 4pm on Friday, September 24.

Need a refresher on 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, they'll remain 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 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.

Queensland currently has 21 active COVID-19 cases, with one new locally acquired case reported in the past 24 hours. Exposure sites have started being named around Brisbane again, however, so you'll need to still keep an eye on the list of places that positive COVID-19 cases have visited.

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.

Southeast Queensland's current mask rules will remain in place until at least 4pm on Friday, September 24. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.