Expert welcomes scrapping mask mandates at airport terminals

NSW Health has confirmed the mask mandate in airports will be scrapped, in line with the recommendations of a key advisory group. Here’s when the rule will end.

Mask-wearing mandates will be scrapped in airports from Friday - and a top health expert and NSW locals are all for it.

A NSW Health spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that wearing masks would no longer be required at airport terminals from June 17, however their continued use would be strongly advised.

The confirmation coems after The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, a group made up of chief health officials from each state, announced on Tuesday it recommended masks no longer be mandatory in airport terminals from midnight on Saturday.

“The AHPPC notes that all states and territories have relaxed mask mandates in most settings within the community and considers that it is no longer proportionate to mandate mask use in airport terminals,” a statement from the group read on Tuesday.

The committee still “strongly recommends” masks be worn in terminals.

Travellers and airport staff may no longer be required to wear masks at airport terminals at the end of the week. Picture: Seb Haggett

Masks are also still compulsory on-board planes- though the AHPPC will also review its advice on this mandate.

In a joint statement, Health Minister Mark Butler and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the AHPPC did not consider the Covid-19 risk in Australia to be “proportionate” to mandatory mask-wearing in airport spaces.

The ministers said they “anticipate” the change will be noticed after this Friday, as the AHPPC recommended.

But it will be up to each state and territory whether the mandate is scrapped or not- meaning NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard will have the final say in whether masks come off inside the state’s airports.

Masks mandates remain in place on NSW public transport, including train, bus and light rail networks, as well as train stations and bus stops.

Experts have weighed in on the new recommendation and welcomed the idea to scrap mask mandates in airport terminals.

Infectious diseases physician and microbiologist Dr Peter Collignon supports the decision. Picture: Mick Tsikas

Pathologist Peter Collignon from the Australian National University said it is a “sensible decision” that aligns with the logic applied to mask rules in shopping centres.

However, he also noted it was a “bit incongruous” to keep masks mandates on flights when they would not be worn in the terminals.

“It is a bit incongruous that mask mandates are scrapped at the terminal and not everywhere else because to a large degree airport terminals are just like shopping centres. The only different people are moving around more,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“It makes sense to apply the same rules.”

Dr Collignon said that despite the evidence suggesting that mask wearing practices do not significantly impact the epidemic curve in populations, putting one on is important for the individual.

“When you look at the data from various places with or without mask mandates … it doesn’t seem to make a lot of difference to epidemic curves and an increase in infection,” he said.

“However, they make a difference to the individual. It’s worth wearing a mask in crowded indoor spaces. I would still personally wear a mask on a plane.”

The ANU Professor said he “suspect(s)” mask mandates will disappear on planes in line with what the evidence suggests and recommends changes be made safely “in stages”.

The new recommendation would mean that passengers won’t have to wear masks at airport terminals, but will continue to wear them on the plane. Picture: Julian Andrews

There have also been calls to remove the mask mandates on NSW public transport.

During peak hour on Wednesday, The Daily Telegraph observed about 55 per cent of commuters on public transport were wearing masks.

On average, 33 per cent of commuters waiting for their trains at station platforms on the City Circle line including Milson’s Point, Central and Wynyard were abiding by the mask laws.

Some individuals waited for trains with masks in hand, ready to put on when boarding, while others had masks covering half or part of their mouths, with their noses exposed.

During the survey, there was a greater number of passengers wearing masks on the City Circle line than the T1 North Shore line.

Commuters Annie Pang and Deepak Sharma, who have both had Covid recently, were among those travelling from Milsons Point Station.

Commuters on public transport seem split on wearing masks. Deepak Sharma and Annie Pang wear them occasionally. Picture: David Swift

The couple were not wearing masks on the outdoor platform and said they don’t believe the mask mandate should be in place, rather individuals should be offered the choice.

For aviation however, they agree masks should stay on.

“We don’t wear them personally,” Ms Pang said.

“It’s past that point but if you’re already sick I can totally understand why you would wear one.

“They should be worn on planes for sure. They’re such a breeding ground for germs.”

Despite not wearing their mask for each trip, they both still carry one in case the carriage becomes crowded.