Mask mandate introduced in ACT to stop Omicron spread

The ACT is reintroducing an indoor mask mandate after calls from the nation’s top medical adviser. Here’s how our rules compare with the world.

The ACT is reintroducing an indoor mask mandate from 11.59pm on Tuesday.

In a statement, the health department said that residents must wear a mask in all indoor settings, including retail stores, work and public transport in Canberra.

Acting Chief Minister Yvette Berry said with the Omicron variant taking hold just over the border in NSW, wearing a mask indoors could reduce risk of further spread.

“In the past week we have seen a significant increase in case numbers in the ACT, and around half of our active cases have been confirmed as the Omicron variant,” she said.

It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison resisted advice on mask mandates by the nation’s top medical adviser ahead of Wednesday’s emergency national cabinet meeting.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly has written to the Prime Minister, state premiers and territory chief ministers calling for masks to be imposed before numbers escalate.

But Mr Morrison said Australia needed to shift from mandates to a culture of personal responsibility and choice as the nation lives to learn with the virus.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks at a the Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club, north of Brisbane. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

“That’s how we live with the virus into the future,” he said.

“In my home state of NSW, people are already wearing masks. They are not being fined if they don’t, because Australians know what is a common sense responsible action to look after their own health and to look after the health of those around them.”

“We’re not going back to lockdowns, we’re not going back to shutting down people’s lives. We’re going forward to live with this virus with common sense.”

Speaking on behalf of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), Prof Kelly said mask mandates should be reimposed “prior to Omicron case escalation to have maximum benefit”.

Claudia Martin and Mya Shiagetz with their masks in Pitt Street Mall, Sydney. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

It comes as a study examining the connection between wearing face masks and a reduction in Covid-19 deaths found that countries that implemented national mask mandates had lower death rates per million people than countries that did not enforce mask rules.

Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine last month, the study examined 44 countries in Asia and Europe, including Greece, Germany, South Korea, Italy, the UK, Sweden and Hong Kong. Throughout the pandemic, mask mandates have come and gone, but are on the rise again as cases caused by the Omicron variant cause a growing global surge of infections.

A man wearing a mask walks along Bondi Beach as restrictions eased further across NSW. From today, masks are only required on public transport and in airports, or for indoor front-of-house hospitality staff. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

As Omicron variant coronavirus cases rise in Australia, health authorities have implemented these rules about wearing masks in public:

NSW

Masks are only required on public transport and in airports, or for indoor front-of-house hospitality staff who are not fully vaccinated.

VIC

Face masks are mandatory in certain key, high-risk settings such as airports, shared transport, hospitals, prisons, aged care, detention centres etc. They are not required for hair or beauty appointments.

QLD

Masks are required in shops, retail outlets, public transport, airports, planes, hospitals, aged care facilities, prisons and detention centres.

WA

Wearing a face mask is mandatory in WA while at an airport, travelling on aircraft, or transporting a person subject to a quarantine direction.

TAS

Masks are mandatory across all indoor settings, public transport and ride shares.

SA

Masks are currently mandatory in health care services, passenger transport services, high risk settings, airports and aeroplanes, personal care, indoor public places and for people in quarantine. They are also strongly recommended for indoor workplaces and adult learning environments and optional in childhood education services.

ACT

Masks must be worn in all indoor settings including retail stores, work and public transport.

How do Australia’s mask policies compare globally? Here are the countries that have currently mandated mask wearing:

People wear masks at an indoor mall in The Oculus in lower Manhattan on the day that a mask mandate went into effect in New York. Picture: AFP

US

With the Omicron variant now detected in 39 out of 50 US states, federal mask mandates have been extended until March 18 in an effort to curb the spread.

The federal requirement to wear a mask over the nose and mouth applies to people riding the bus, train and planes

Last week, a statewide mask mandate for California was reinstated for indoor public places and will last at least a month.

California joins seven other states (Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington) and Puerto Rico in requiring most people to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

Shoppers wear face masks while walking along Regent Street. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has declared a major incident in London due to the rise in Omicron cases. Picture: Getty Images

UK

Face masks are now compulsory in most public settings in England such as shops, pubs, cinemas, theatres and places of worship.

The government previously reintroduced masks on public transport and at transport hubs.

Under-12s are exempt, as are those who can’t wear face coverings for medical reasons.

In Scotland and Ireland, masks must be worn in most indoor public settings and on public transport.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen (R) and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz adjust their protective face masks at the European Commission in Brussels. Picture: AFP

EUROPE

Austria

Masks are required on public transport and in indoor spaces.

Belgium

Masks are no longer required outdoors but remain compulsory in indoor spaces such as shops, places of worship and public transport.

Cyprus

The wearing of face masks continues to be mandatory.

Denmark

Now requires face masks in public after ditching the rule previously.

France

Requires masks in public areas throughout the country.

Germany

Has implemented new mask mandates and tightened restrictions, including that people must wear medical-grade masks.

A sign reading "Masks compulsory" and "Please wear a mask" hanging from a decorated tree at a Christmas market in the city of Cologne, western Germany. Picture: AFP

Greece

Masks must be worn in all indoor public places.

Hungary

Masks must be worn in hospitals, institutions, and on public transport.

Italy

Has mandated wearing a mask both indoors and outside in public spaces.

Norway

Masks are compulsory in public spaces for everyone over the age of 12, unless you are exempt.

Portugal

Face masks must be worn in public in addition to social distancing and hygiene measures enforced in all public settings.

Romania

Locals and visitors must wear a mask when in indoor public spaces, as well as while in outdoor gatherings.

Spain

Masks are mandatory in public spaces indoors and outdoors for everyone over the age of 6.

Russia

In Moscow, masks are required in shops and on public transport.

Ukraine

Indoor mask-wearing is mandatory in all public spaces.

MIDDLE EAST

Israel

Israel and the Palestinian Territories banned entry of all foreign visitors and reinstated its mask mandates.

Turkey

Indoor and outdoor mask-wearing is mandatory.

UAE

Masks are required indoors but can be removed when doing exercise or outdoors at a beach or pool.

SOUTH AFRICA

Mask wearing is compulsory everywhere outside the ghome with a few exceptions such as exercise or eating and drinking.

A worker wears a protective mask as he drives during evening rush hour in Beijing, China. Picture: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

ASIA

China and Hong Kong

Mask wearing is required in public places and is strictly enforced as part of the “zero Covid” policy.

Indonesia

It is mandatory for people to wear masks when leaving home. In Jakarta, masks are compulsory even in private cars and fines are imposed to those breaking the rules.

Japan

There is no legal mask requirement but they are recommended in public places.

Malaysia

Masks in public are mandatory.

Philippines

Masks must be work when leaving home.

Women wearing face masks walk below decorations outside a shopping mall in Bangkok. Picture: AFP

Singapore

Masks must be worn indoors and outdoors in public spaces with the exception only of exercising or eating and drinking.

South Korea

Masks have been mandatory indoors throughout the pandemic and only allowed to be removed when eating or drinking.

Taiwan

Masks are required in most public spaces.

Thailand

People are required to wear masks while in public spaces and while doing activities in groups.

Vietnam

Masks are mandated in public nationwide with no exceptions.

Anti-vaccine Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro holds a girl, both wearing face masks, during the flag-raising ceremony. Picture: AFP

LATIN AMERICA

Argentina

Masks are required indoors and outdoors in public.

Brazil

In Sao Paulo, its largest city, the public mask mandate has been extended.

Chile

Masks are requited in outdoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status.

Costa Rica

Masks are not required outdoors but there is a government mask mandate on indoor spaces outside of the home.

El Salvador

Masks are mandated indoors and outdoors, outside the home.

Mexico

Masks are required at places of work and recommended indoors when social distancing isn’t possible.

Peru

Masks are compulsory in public places, on the streets, with an additional shield recommended in closed spaces.

Originally published as Mask mandate introduced in ACT to stop Omicron spread