Jeannette Young says masks could stay even as other Covid-19 rules are relaxed

An infectious diseases expert says masks are likely to have played a crucial role in Queensland’s most recent Covid-19 outbreak, and that they should stay even as other restrictions are wound back.

With the delta strain on Queensland’s doorstep an infectious disease expert believes masks should stay despite other restrictions being set to ease on Friday, and chief health officer Jeannette Young has hinted they might.

Queensland recorded six new cases on Tuesday but restrictions are still on track to ease, with 100 people to be allowed in homes, 100 per cent capacity at stadiums and one person per two square metres at indoor venues.

Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young speaks during a press conference to provide a COVID-19 update. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

From Friday at 4pm, masks will only be mandatory when worn at stadiums and airports, but Dr Young said that could change between now and Friday.

“The one thing I do want to turn my mind to between now and Friday, depending where we are, is masks,” Dr Young said.

“Because we know how essential they have been so we just might need to look at whether there needs to be an extended period to some mask wearing.”

Infectious disease expert Dr Paul Griffin said it's a good idea to “get used to wearing masks” while the Delta virus remains on our doorstep.

“Masks will likely be part of our strategy for the foreseeable future, they’re not a perfect intervention, they don’t stop all transmission but as a part of a suite of comprehensive mitigation strategies they are very useful,” Dr Griffin said.

“It’s really a matter of when, not if, we will have cases … masks have probably been a really big part of how we stopped community transmission with previous incursions and they have limited the impact of our recent cluster.

“I suspect that (the outbreak) would have been much worse had we not already had masks in the community.”

Dr Paul Griffin. Picture: supplied

People in South East Queensland must carry a face mask at all times outside the home and masks are mandatory at schools, stadiums, airports and on public transport.

You must also wear a mask if you can’t socially distance indoors or outdoors.

It comes as the New South Wales chief health officer Kerry Chant said masks could be kept around for years.

“In terms of the Doherty modelling, what they’re saying is around 80 per cent you have options and choices,” Dr Chant said.

“It’s not to say you’re not going to have to calibrate and respond your level of restrictions, what you permit – it may be that we actually have indoor mask-wearing for years in certain settings.”

Mr Griffin said other countries who faced diseases in the past have adopted masks without them being mandated.

“It’s the mentality we should be looking at here, is that someone of these basic mitigation strategies will become learnt behaviour it’s a basic behavioural change we should encourage,” he said.