The NSW Government Strongly Recommends That Sydneysiders Wear Face Masks
"Even if you live beyond the northern beaches, you should be wearing a mask indoors," said Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
With COVID-19 case numbers rising in New South Wales over the days leading up to Sunday, December 20 — primarily as part of the northern beaches cluster — the NSW Government is asking Sydneysiders across all of Greater Sydney to wear face masks.
At a press conference today to announce new gathering and venue restrictions, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said "even if you live beyond the northern beaches, you should be wearing a mask indoors". She also gave specific examples of places where wearing a mask is "a must", including "going grocery shopping anywhere in New South Wales", "going to a place of worship anywhere in New South Wales" and "going into an indoor setting or anywhere where social distancing can't be maintained".
Also, everyone is asked to wear masks on public transport — although that isn't a new message. "For heaven's sake, do not get on public transport unless you are wearing a mask. I can't stress that enough," the Premier said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard also listed specific areas where folks should be donning face coverings — covering all of the Greater Sydney area, but going into more detail if you're wondering what that means. The highlighted spots include "the Sydney CBD, the Illawara, Shoalhaven, the Central Coast, and the Nepean and Blue Mountains [areas]".
The government's mask request is in effect "at least for the next few days until we revisit this issue on Wednesday," Minister Hazzard advised; however, it may extend beyond that date. "It may well be wise to wear those masks going through Christmas and New Year in the Greater Sydney area," he noted.
Wearing masks hasn't been made compulsory as yet, though, as Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant explained. "We all have a part to play in how we respond to this, and often the actions we require people to adopt require people to cooperate... We have had a lot of cooperation from both the community and business, but we will use all strategies to bring this virus under control. Ultimately it is also in the hands of the individuals within New South Wales," she said.
The announcement comes as NSW records 36 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours leading up to 8pm on Saturday, December 19, including 30 that have been locally acquired.
If you don't have a mask, Victoria's Department of Health has put together a handy step-by-step guide for how you can make your own. We've also put together a rundown of local companies making and selling them.
To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.
