NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant warns mask restriction could be in place ‘for years’

As Australia plans its path out of lockdowns and shifts its focus to living with, and managing Covid-19, one restriction could be in place for years.

A mandate on mask wearing could be in place “for years” as the nation plans its path out of the coronavirus crisis.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant made the suggestion on Tuesday while speaking about what would happen when the state reached a vaccination level of 80 per cent, which is the national goal for reopening.

“In terms of the Doherty modelling, which says at around 80 per cent (vaccination rate) you have options and choices ... that’s not to say you’re not going to have to calibrate and respond with a level of restrictions,” she said.

“It may be that we actually have indoor mask-wearing for years in certain settings.

“We may have factors where you’re only permitted to go to certain high risk venues if you're vaccinated and can show proof of vaccination.

Certain measures may need to stay in place. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“The world is grappling with how we coexist with Covid-19 and the virus may throw us curve balls.”

Even after 80 per cent of the eligible population is vaccinated, Covid-19 will still need to be managed with some public health measures – test, trace, isolate and quarantine – according to the report.

For instance, restrictions will ease further and lockdowns will become more generalised so that Phase D – “Normal” – can be reached, where Covid-19 is managed like the flu.

In a statement shared to Twitter on Monday night, the Doherty Institute said there would be no one day where rules were lifted and lockdowns ended for good.

The UK removed the majority of restrictions last month, with July 19 labelled “freedom day”.

But it has had devastating consequences and resulted in a spike of Covid-19 cases, with the country now recording an average of 32,210 new cases and 98 deaths a day.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said Covid-19 would still need to be managed. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

The Doherty Institute said the 70 to 80 per cent level of vaccination would “make it easier to live with the virus” similar to how the world handles the flu.

“However, it won’t be possible to maintain a situation where there are no cases at all. The focus will shift to keeping the number of people going into hospital and dying at a minimum,” the institute said.

“In an average year of influenza, we would roughly have 600 deaths and 200,000 cases in Australia. Any death is a tragedy but our health system can cope with this.”

NSW recorded 753 new infections on Tuesday, a dip on the previous few days which breached the 800 mark.

The state also hit its target of six million vaccinations, which means some restrictions could be eased in September for those who are fully vaccinated.