Masks Remain Mandatory Indoors and Outside in Southeast Queensland for the Next Fortnight

After eight days in lockdown, residents of southeast Queensland will be permitted to leave their houses for whatever reasons they like from 4pm today, Sunday, August 8. As a result, a heap of restrictions will change throughout the 11 Local Government Areas in the region that's been under stay-at-home conditions since last weekend — but wearing masks isn't one of them.

If you live in the Brisbane City Council, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim LGAs, it has been some time since you've been able to flash your smile at people outside of your own home. And, that isn't changing now. 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 — a mandate that's remaining in place until at least 4pm on Sunday, August 22.

This is familiar news, because the State Government has extended the mask requirement for these 11 LGAs not just once but multiple times now. Masks were compulsory under lockdown conditions, obviously.

Announcing the extension of the mask mandate for the next fortnight, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that "until we can get to those 70 and 80-percent vaccination rates, masks are absolutely critical. These masks are absolutely crucial, because they are your protection against the Delta virus, as well as getting the vaccine."

If you need a refresher, the mask rules apply whenever you're spending time indoors somewhere other than your own home — and outdoors as well. In all of these situations, you must wear a mask. Accordingly, you also always need to be carrying a mask with you.

They must be worn at all times when you're not in your own house, unless specific conditions apply. So, you don't have to mask up if you are alone in your car or with members of your household, you are alone outdoors or with folks you live with, if you're eating or drinking, if you're doing strenuous exercise, or if it is unsafe to do so.

Obviously, these rules cover — but aren't limited to — all indoor spaces other than your house, all indoor workplaces unless it is unsafe to do so, public transport, and in taxis and ride share vehicles.

Queensland currently has 148 active COVID-19 cases, with nine 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.