When you need to wear a mask in each state and territory

As coronavirus outbreaks flare up around Australia, here are the rules for wearing masks in each state and territory.

As several states and territories across Australia scramble to contain unfolding virus outbreaks, requirements regarding the wearing of face masks have been updated.

Here is a complete list of when and where you need to wear a face mask across all Australian states and territories.

NSW

People aged 12 years and older across NSW are required to wear a face mask in all indoor areas of non-residential premises, including indoor workplaces.

NSW Health advises, as well as wearing a face mask in all indoor areas, they must also be worn in the following settings:

• On public transport

• If you are working at a hospitality venue

• In a major recreation facility such as a stadium

• At certain outdoor gatherings

In NSW, if you are 12 or older, you need to wear a face mask. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Queensland

Face masks are mandatory from 1am Tuesday across the Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Moreton, Brisbane, Gold Coast, the Scenic Rim, the Lockyer Valley and Somerset regions.

If you are in any of these regions you must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave your home.

Masks must be worn in indoor spaces such as shopping centres, public transport, hospitals, aged care facilities, churches and workplaces where you can’t physically distance.

You do not have to wear a mask if you are in a car by yourself or with members of your household; if you are outdoors with members of your household; or if you’re eating or drinking.

These rules will be in place for two weeks.

Victoria

There are different rules in place regarding face masks in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

The Victorian Government advises anyone in metropolitan Melbourne aged 12 years and older must wear a face mask indoors and outdoors, with the exception of private residences.

Face masks must be worn in the following settings:

• Shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets and markets

• When visiting hospitals and aged care facilities

• Restaurants and cafes, when you are not eating or drinking

• Indoor workplaces

• Libraries

• Cinemas

• Churches and places of worship

• Entertainment facilities

• Outdoors i.e. taking the dog for a walk 

• Recreational facilities and gyms (an exemption applies when engaged in any strenuous exercise)

• On public transport, in taxis, or in rideshare vehicles

• At airports and in aircraft

Face masks must also be carried at all times, unless a lawful exception applies to you.

Face masks must be worn outdoors if:

• Visiting a hospital

• Visiting a care facility and you are within 1.5m of a resident or staff member

• You are a diagnosed person or a close contact and need to leave their premises for a lawful exception (e.g. to obtain medical care);

• Awaiting test results and need to leave the premises (e.g. to obtain medical care), or

• Experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms.

In regional Victoria, face masks must be carried at all times and worn inside (except at private residences) and outside if you cannot maintain at least 1.5m apart.

Commuters wearing masks walk past a sign near a tram in Melbourne. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Northern Territory

People in lockdown areas of Darwin and the Palmerston and Litchfield regions must wear a face mask if they leave their place of residence for the following reasons:

• Medical treatment, including Covid testing or vaccination

• For essential goods and services, like groceries and medications

• For work that is considered essential

• For one hour of outdoor exercise a day within 5km from your home with one other person or people from your house

• To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves.

Children under the age of two years should not wear a mask. It is up to individuals to decide if children over two years of age wear a face mask.

People who have a relevant medical or health condition should not wear a mask if it is not safe or appropriate to do so.

Face masks must be worn at all major NT airports and while on an aircraft.

If you live outside of the lockdown areas, it is recommended that you take extra precautions and wear a mask in public if you have any symptoms and are seeking medical advice or are going to get tested.

Shoppers in Darwin mask up while queuing for the shops. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Western Australia

People in the Perth and Peel regions must wear a face mask indoors, on public transport and outdoors where physical distancing is not possible.

Masks will be mandatory for staff and visitors at hospitals in the Perth and Peel regions.

Anyone who enters a regional area from the Perth-Peel region is required to wear a mask as per requirements in these regions.

Primary school aged children and those who are exempt are not required to wear masks.

The requirements regarding face masks will remain in place for at least three days from 12 noon on Sunday.

Gatherings will also be limited to 30 visitors in the home, with events that can’t be restricted to 150 people to be cancelled or played without spectators.

The 150 patron limit and 2 sqm limit rule also applies to hospitality, beauty and hairdressing and fitness businesses, public venues, casinos, nightclubs and places of worship.

Weddings and funerals are limited to 150 attendees and there will be a maximum of four personal visitors per patient per day in hospitals, aged and disability care centres.

ACT

From Monday, face masks are required in certain public settings within the ACT.

Face masks must be worn at all times in the following settings:

• On a public transport service or at a public transport waiting area, including: taxi services, rideshare services, bus and light rail services, community transport services, stations or platforms for rail/bus/light rail, bus stops and taxi ranks (including any area where people queue or gather)

• In indoor retail premises or business premises that provide goods or services to members of the public who attend the premises (other than a hospitality venue, health service or kiosk), including: supermarkets, shopping centres (including food courts), bank branches, post offices, hairdressing salons, nail salons, beauty salons (removal of the face covering is permitted if necessary for the proper provision of the goods and services), tanning salons, waxing salons, spas, tattoo parlours, massage parlours, betting agencies, community centres, youth centres or facilities, auction houses, real estate auctions/display homes/open homes, galleries/museums/national institutions

• In any indoor part of premises licensed under the Liquor Act that is used primarily for the purposes of gaming, including a gaming lounge

• In indoor entertainment facilities including: cinemas or movie theatres, events and event performances, in indoor premises being used for public worship or religious services, including places of worship, visiting or working within residential aged care facilities. (Note: residents of an aged care facility are exempt)

• Working at a hospitality venue in the ACT in a role which requires you to deal directly with members of the public, including: casinos, food and drink premises, microbreweries and small distilleries, pubs, registered clubs and small bars

• Dropping off and picking up children from childcare/after school care

For hospitality venues, mask requirements will align with those currently in effect in regional NSW, meaning employees who have contact with patrons must wear a mask at all times.

Patrons at hospitality venues are strongly encouraged to wear a mask while in the venue but can remove the face covering while eating and drinking.

Face masks do not need to be worn when working in an office environment, unless you work in a customer service role where you are regularly interacting with the public.

When visiting a gym, face masks should be worn when entering the facility, waiting for classes and in other common areas. You can remove it to do your workout and put it back on afterwards.

When attending indoor sports, participants and referees are required to wear masks before and after games as well as in common areas. Participants and referees are not required to wear masks while competing. Spectators and coaches are required to wear masks at all times.

Face mask requirements do not apply to individuals who are working on a premises outlined above, if the person does not interact directly with members of the public. This does not include persons working at residential aged care facilities.

Face masks are mandatory inside the Canberra Airport terminal and during domestic commercial flights in and out of Canberra.

People wear masks outside Optus Stadium before the AFL game between the West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs on Sunday. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

South Australia

At this time in South Australia, face masks are not mandatory for the general community, but it is recommended to wear a mask when out in public if you are unable to physically distance.

Children under 12 years of age do not need to wear a mask.

Face masks are mandatory at all times while on an aeroplane or at any airport during your journey.

People present at an airport in South Australia must also wear a face mask.

Tasmania

You must wear a face mask in the following situations when in Tasmania:

• Face masks must be worn by everyone aged 12 years and older at airports, in the indoor areas of the airport, when boarding a commercial domestic aircraft, when on board a commercial domestic aircraft in Tasmanian airspace.

• Face masks must be worn in an indoor area of the Spirit of Tasmania terminal that is open to passengers or other members of the public; in a vehicle that is at the Spirit of Tasmania terminal, on board the vessel, or while proceeding through the biosecurity screening and other check points; in a communal area on board the Spirit of Tasmania vessel while the vessel is at the terminal or in Tasmanian waters; and in other situations as required by the Spirit of Tasmania according to its conditions of travel or workplace policies.

• Some essential travellers who may be eligible for a full or partial exemption from 14 days’ quarantine are required to wear face masks at all times when in public or while you are working or completing your official duties as per your essential traveller status.

Originally published as When you need to wear a mask in each state and territory