Greater Brisbane's Mask Mandate Has Been Extended Again Until August 6

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 southeast Queensland. For residents of the the Brisbane City Council, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim Local Government Areas, that isn't changing just yet, with Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath announcing today, Thursday, July 29, that the mask mandate in these 11 LGAs will be extended again for another week.

This is familiar news, because the State Government first expanded its initial mask requirement in Brisbane and several other parts of the state until mid-July, then extended it again for 11 Local Government Areas in and around Brisbane for another week — and then did the same again for one more week. That last extension was due to end at 6am on Friday, July 30, which is why it has been announced today that masking up will remain a part of our daily lives until at least the same time on Friday, August 6.

If you need a refresher, the mask rules apply whenever you're spending time indoors somewhere other than your own home. In those situations, you must wear a mask. They must be worn in all indoor spaces other than your house, all indoor workplaces unless it is unsafe to do so, on public transport, and in taxis and ride share vehicles. And, outdoors, you need to wear them when social distancing isn't possible.

Accordingly, you always need to have a mask with you. Last week, the rules were also extended to a number of venues statewide — so wearing masks is currently mandated in all indoor ticketed venues, including stadiums, theatres and cinemas as well.

"We have been able to contain all of these outbreaks to very small numbers, and that is in some small part to the restrictions we have had in place — and particularly mask-wearing," said D'Ath, announcing today's mask mandate extension. "It is important, while we work through the most recent cases that we have had in community, that we continue to practice mask-wearing to ensure that we don't have transmission going through our community."

Queensland currently has 42 active COVID-19 cases, with no 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.

For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Queensland, head to the QLD COVID-19 hub and the Queensland Health website.