‘Take your mask off’: Chief public health officer confronted in street, urges for kindness

The chief public health officer revealed she was confronted in the street because she voluntarily wore a face mask where it wasn’t mandatory.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier revealed she was heckled in the street for wearing a face mask where it wasn’t mandatory. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

South Australia’s chief public health officer has pleaded with citizens to be “kind” to one another ahead of easing mask-wearing rules coming into effect later this week.

Professor Nicola Spurrier told reporters on Tuesday a person heckled her while she was walking in the street because she was wearing her face mask.

Under current rules, masks are not mandatory outdoors, but are required to be worn in all public indoor spaces.

“I love my mask because I know it protects me and protects other people around me,” Professor Spurrier said.

“When I was walking down the street in the last two weeks, someone walked past me and said: ‘take your mask off’.

“It’s really important that we’re kind and considerate to other people who might want to continue to wear their mask.”

SA chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier revealed on Tuesday she was heckled by a person because she chose to wear a face mask outdoors, where it is not mandatory. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

She urged people to be ‘kind and considerate’ to each other as people would choose to wear their mask when it is not required. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Following Tuesday’s Emergency Management Council meeting, Premier Peter Malinauskas announced the mask wearing rule would relax tremendously as of 12.02am on Good Friday as he recently indicated, bringing the state in line with the rest of the nation.

However, he also said wearing a mask once the mandate lifted was a person’s choice.

“If there are South Australians who are no longer required to wear masks but want to continue to wear them, they should,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“There is nothing wrong with choosing to wear one if you feel as though that provides you and your family or a loved one with more protection.”

Under the new rules, masks will still need to be worn in high risk settings, being hospitals, aged care and residential disability facilities.

Premier Peter Malinauskas announced the mask mandate would dramatically ease on Friday as anticipated. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

It was also announced QR check-ins would only be required for those same places.

Changes to mask wearing in schools are yet to be announced, but the Premier said the state government would continue to work with the Education Department over the school holidays.

Further announcements are expected closer to the next school term.

There were 4401 new cases and six deaths reported on Tuesday.

Currently, 232 people have been admitted to hospital, with 12 people in intensive care and two on a ventilator.

Originally published as ‘Take your mask off’: Chief public health officer confronted in street, urges for kindness