‘Smiles are back’: Major mask rule change coming to Queensland

Queensland will make major changes to its face mask mandate as the state eases more Covid rules.

Queenslanders will join Victoria and NSW in scrapping mask mandates in almost all indoor settings.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declared “smiles are back” as she announce sweeping changes on Tuesday.

“We are cautiously optimistic the number of hospitalisations and infections have peaked which is why today I can make this announcement,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“This is all about getting our lives back to a new normal.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the changes in parliament on Thursday. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Under the new rules, masks will no longer be required in shops, workplaces, schools and hospitality venues from 6pm on Friday, March 4.

The rule will remain in place on public transport, in hospitals, disability care, prisons, aged care, airports and planes.

The state will also scrap density limits on weddings, funerals, hairdressers, funerals, gyms and private venues.

There will no longer be a cap on how many people you can have in your home.

The welcome mat will be rolled out for bands, excursions, assemblies and visitors in schools as a “brighter chapter awaits”.

As restrictions ease, health authorities have made a fresh plea for parents to get their children vaccinated.

Queenslanders will soon be able to ditch face masks in most indoor settings. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The easing of mask requirements follows after almost two years of Covid restrictions.

The state re-introduced mandatory mask wearing early January at the heigh of Queensland’s Omicron wave.

Ms Palaszczuk said people who felt vulnerable should continue to wear a mask.

“The story of this pandemic is not yet over, though we hope a brighter chapter awaits,” she said.

“The credit for this belongs to every single Queenslander.”

Chief health officer John Gerrard will hold his last daily Covid press conference on March 1 with statistics to be published online instead.

The Sunshine State recorded five more Covid-related deaths and 5583 new cases in the latest reporting period.

More than 63 per cent of Queensland’s eligible population have received a booster shot.

The premier says “smiles are back” as a raft of Covid restrictions ease. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Health Minister Yvette D‘Ath said more than 10 million Covid vaccines have been administered in Queensland since the start of the pandemic.

“This means we now have over 4 million Queenslanders who are now vaccinated,” she said.

“This is an incredible achievement that many thought would not be possible at the start of the pandemic.”

The Victorian government announced on Tuesday masks would no longer be needed in most indoor settings from midnight on Friday.

The public health recommendation for people to work from home where possible will also be scrapped.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the government needed to do what was safe.

“We’ve seen Omicron peak, we’re now down the other side of that peak and hospital numbers are falling,” he said.

The new rules have controversially kept a mask mandate for grade 3 to 6 students but scrapped the rule for high school students.

NSW scrapped its mask mandate last Friday.

Originally published as ‘Smiles are back’: Major mask rule change coming to Queensland