Premier announces return to mask mandate amid ‘dramatic escalation’ in cases interstate

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a return to mandatory mask wearing from 1am tomorrow as 20 new cases were detected in the state overnight.

Masks will return to Queensland over the Christmas and New Years period in shops, hospitals, aged care, rideshare, airports and on public transport and planes.

It comes as Queensland recorded 20 new Covid cases overnight, 9 locally acquired, 7 acquired interstate and 4 detected in quarantine.

Of today’s new cases, five were in Brisbane north, eight in Brisbane south, one in West Moreton, two on the Sunshine Coast, two on the Gold Coast and two in Cairns.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said 83 per cent of Queenslanders were now fully vaccinated. There are now five Omicron cases in the state.

Seven of the new cases are from interstate while three were from known contacts in Queensland.

Four have not been linked while a further two are under investigation.

Several of the state’s Omicron cases are linked to the outbreak in Newcastle.

The Minister said the Covid-19 figures in NSW and Victoria were concerning.

She said it was now more important than ever that people got the jab and continued checking in.

BREAKING: As of 1am on Saturday, 18 December, masks are mandatory across Queensland. @YvetteDAth#covid19https://t.co/93kI7RU0I4

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) December 17, 2021

The Minister said the mask mandate would help reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.

“You are not required to carry a mask with you at all times but we strongly encourage it,” she said.

“We know masks are easy to wear and they make a difference,” she said.

Conceding the mandate would be new for many places outside the southeast, the Minister said outbreaks had been avoided in Queensland because of them.

The mandate will be reviewed when the state hit 90 per cent.

“We know masks are easy to wear and they make a difference,” she said.

Yvette D' Ath. Pic Annette Dew

Chief health officer John Gerrard said the majority of new cases were Delta.

He said four of the cases, which ranged from Cairns to the Gold Coast, were unlinked. “We’ve had two additional omicron cases in the last 24 hours, one in Brisbane and one on the Gold Coast,” he said.

Dr Gerrard said mask wearing was about people protecting themselves and others.

“I think most people expected a mask mandate to appear around about now.”

“(Masks) will also give opportunity to reduce the strain on hospitals.

“Mask wearing is not just about protecting yourself but about it protecting others.

“The direction as it is written is relatively expected.”

He said what was required was not particularly onerous.

Dr Gerrard said initial testing screenings at the Holland Park aged care facility have come back negative.

He said lockdowns were not under consideration.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll urged Queenslanders to be respectful of each other in light of the new mandate on businesses which came into effect at 5am this morning. She said police were already looking at eight businesses where there appeared to be issues with the new mandate.

Making the mask announcement, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there was a “dramatic escalation in cases” in New South Wales and - given the borders were open - she needed to introduce measures to keep Queenslanders safe.

“We know with the borders reopening we are going to see cases in Queensland,” she said.

She said masks would be mandatory in shops, hospitals, airports, rideshare and aged care and on public transport including planes.

Masks were not required outdoors or in workplaces.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk reacts as she listens to newly appointed Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard speaking during a press conference. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

Ms Palaszczuk said the mask mandate would be state-wide from 1am tomorrow, Saturday.

“This is a small price to pay for your freedoms,” she said.

Queensland recorded 22 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, the highest daily total since August 5 when 27 cases were linked to the Indooroopilly school cluster.

At least three cases are confirmed to be the Omicron variant and more are expected, sparking authorities to urge Queenslanders to return to wearing masks.

It comes as businesses prepare to operate at full capacity for the fully vaccinated from 5am today, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath it was “encouraged” to wear a mask in heavily populated indoor areas.

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Originally published as Premier announces return to mask mandate amid ‘dramatic escalation’ in cases interstate