How Victorians will be wearing face masks into 2021
Victorians are getting used to wearing face coverings but when COVID-19 restrictions start to ease, we may still have to mask up for certain activities for months to come. See what the experts are predicting.
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Victorians will have to get used to wearing masks for many day-to-day activities well into the new year, even once COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings start to ease.
Supermarket and shopping trips, public transport use, and some workplace activity is likely to remain masked-up for many months in order to reduce the risk of fresh coronavirus flare-ups.
Plans are also being drawn up for how to manage a return to restaurants and pubs before a vaccine is available, with sit-down diners able to remove masks while eating, but only with social distancing maintained.
It is understood authorities are concerned that coronavirus cases will spike again if restrictions are wound back too quickly, meaning a withdrawal of some limits on our lives will be gradual.
For example it could mean that, in Melbourne, stage three restrictions — which require people to stay at home unless they are shopping for essentials, requiring care, going to work or education, or exercising — would come into force after stage four eases.
Experts are also looking overseas and to other states where masks have been used for certain activities although infection numbers have fallen.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said on Saturday masks would still be needed while restrictions were being wound back. “Masks will have to be part and parcel of our lives for some time after stage four,” he said.
“It’s clear they are not always comfortable, they’re not always convenient but they are effective.
“It’s not like an N95 mask or a surgical mask but it does make a difference and every little bit counts.”
Prof Sutton said changes could be considered once “mystery cases” were no longer fuelling infection levels.
“If we’ve got no community transmission whatsoever then I’m not going to be recommending masks beyond that,” he said.
“But there are other levels we can get to where maybe we don’t require masks in all settings at all times.”
Daniel Andrews said that until a vaccine was secured, Victorians would need to become used to different levels of restrictions remaining in place.
“There will be rules of one sort or another in place for the foreseeable future,” the Premier said.
“We’re going to be wearing masks for a longer period into stage four, we’re going to be washing our hands more often (and) we’re going to be keeping our distance.”
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