Melbourne’s mask rules could be relaxed as state prepares for eased restrictions
New advice circulating among senior public health officials has revealed the settings in which Victoria’s stringent mask rules could be relaxed.
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The state government is considering relaxing mask rules.
The Herald Sun understands requirements around masks will be discussed at the Crisis Council of Cabinet meeting on Saturday that is examining which restrictions can be eased in the future.
Advice has circulated among senior public health officials that Victorians could safely remove masks when outdoors and alone or not near anyone else.
But the advice says there would be an ongoing requirement to continue to carry a mask at all times.
It would mean Victorians could potentially remove masks when out walking or sitting in a park or at the beach alone.
Premier Daniel Andrews has left the door open for further restrictions to be eased on Sunday after a week of no new coronavirus cases.
But he has repeatedly spruiked the significant benefit of wearing masks and has said he had no intention of making any changes to current mask restrictions.
However he could face new pressure in light of the public health advice, with division among the cabinet over certain restrictions and how long they should stay in place.
It is understood the Crisis Council of Cabinet meeting will focus on long term planning of COVID-normal and what thresholds there should be for the future easing of restrictions.
“I’m very hopeful on Sunday, that we can make announcements, as we foreshadowed, we may be able to add a little bit there,” Mr Andrews said.
“Perhaps more importantly, we’ll then be able to talk about what the rest of November looks like.”
Leading epidemiologists predict the state will move to a “smart masking” policy and use common sense to dictate when they will be worn.
Melbourne University’s Professor Tony Blakely — an epidemiologist and public health specialist who worked on the modelling used by the state government to control Victoria’s second wave — said the next step would come into play when the virus was considered under control.
“If we meet the working definition of elimination – 28 days [of zero cases and transmission] – then we can just put masks aside,” he said.
“But between now and then it can be rationalised to using in busy or crowded places.
“They will be (needed) on public transport or places like Smith Street, if you’re watching a band.”
Prof Blakely said it would be “advisable” to wear them going forward when feeling sick.
Chair of Epidemiology at Deakin University, Professor Catherine Bennett, said masks had played a vital role in controlling the state’s second wave.
“We saw our reproduction numbers drop as masks were introduced in Melbourne, then Geelong, and then again in the rest of regional Victoria,” she said.
“They do make a difference, and Victorians wear them well enough for this to have helped us contain the second wave.”
She said it was likely they would still be used in settings where it was not possible to social distance.
“As we move from outbreak response mode into prevention, masks will still have a place in closed indoor settings and public transport,” she said.
“If someone does attend an indoor venue with the virus, then the risk of transmission is reduced, and it is less likely that this will grow into a larger outbreak.”
Prof Bennett added that going forward, she hoped people would be more considerate of their movements and the potential to infect others when sick.
“I am hoping that we will have normalised people staying home if unwell,” she said.
“But I do think that masks will be an ongoing feature, especially in indoor public places through winter.
“Many people have commented on how good it was having a winter free from colds and sniffles, let’s keep that going.”
It comes as restaurants scramble to rehire staff ahead of an influx of summer tourists.
Just 10 staff have returned to work at Barwon Heads’ At The Heads cafe, which has been limited to serving regional Victorians.
Operations manager Jack Evans said he was looking to bring back more of the almost 50-person team stood down in March.
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