Mask mandate dropped: Cairns businesses welcomes lifted restrictions

Cairns has embraced the relaxing of mask restrictions set to come into effect today, but face coverings will still be required in certain places. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

CAIRNS waiter Criso Alvares, is excited that at the stroke of 6pm on Friday, he won't have to wear a mask to work.

Mr Alvares, 35, said not only would it be a relief to not have to spend his shifts masked-up, he hoped it would encourage people to get back to eating out and enjoying Cairns’ great restaurants and cafes.

“Not having to wear a mask is something to look forward to,” he said.

“I work in hospitality and everyone will be a lot more comfortable and I hope everyone is happy.”

Criso Alvares of Cairns City has found compulsory face coverings to be restrictive, and cut a hole in his face mask to eat a CBC Burger with the lot at the Cairns Burger Cafe. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Alvares’ comments were echoed by business owners across Cairns who said they were excited about staff and customers being able to ditch the mask and enjoy unencumbered conversations with their clients.

From 6pm on Friday, masks will no longer be required in Queensland’s shops, workplaces, schools and hospitality venues, they will however, be required to be worn on public transport, in hospitals, disability care, prisons, aged care and at airports.

According to Cairns Chamber of Commerce president Sally Mlikota, the relaxation on the mask mandate was “a psychological boost,” which the city desperately needed.

Race goers at the Cairns Cup racing carnival last year were required to wear face masks due to the Queensland Government restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Jody Simpson of Whitfield matches her face mask with a Sonlia jumpsuit and millinery. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Mlikota said businesses had been through a tough and challenging time and hopefully the city and its businesses and residents were on the cusp of a much-needed revival.

“I hope this signals that we see a shift in mood and positivity and more people are out and about,” she said.

“It’s been a long two years for businesses, individuals and everybody and this move to relax masks signals a return to normalcy and whatever the new normal will look like.”

But Ms Mlikota said being able to push the masks to the back of the closet, did not mean abandoning the vigilance which was cultivated during the pandemic.

Cairns Chamber of Commerce president Sally Mlikota says hopefully the city and its businesses are on the cusp of a much-needed revival.

“Obviously people with underlying health conditions need to keep wearing masks,” she said.

”But when I was in a shop on Thursday, you could tell the staff could not wait to be able to work without their masks.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by Cairns business owners.

Toddies Barbers’ Akam Morvatjou said when the mask mandate ticked over, there was going to be a rush as many blokes who relaxed their style standards decided they would reboot their luscious locks.

Jesse Everaardt from Earlville is proud of his beard, keeps it clean and is not concerned about what people say it. Picture Justin Brierty

He said Cairns should prepare to see men strutting their stuff as they showed off their newly groomed beards or clean-shaven faces, particularly those who had been working from home.

Mr Morvatjou who had been cutting men and women’s hair for more than six years and a specialist barber for two years, said the salon located at DFO in Westcourt had a lot of customers who had declared once the mask mandate was over, their chin would be back on show.

“Many fellows have gone scruffy or shaved off their beards during Covid,” he said.

“And a few clients have been really holding off shaving their beard for a long time and I think we will see a lot of beautifully trimmed beards.”

Beth Watson from the Mungali Biodynamic “The Dairy” expresses her joy following the announcement that masks will no longer be required from Friday March 4. Picture: Emily Barker

Mr Morvatjou who himself sports a shaved head, said as more people returned to working outside their home office, he expected there would be a greater emphasis on sleeker grooming.

“The trends for men we expect to be asked for is quite a classic gentleman’s haircut with a side parting or a number two at the back,” he said.

“The mullet was back for a while, a lot of youngsters were putting a spin on it with a side fade and I am definitely looking forward to the end of wearing a mask to work.”

Macsen Roberts and Stratford’s Eagle Tamer Barbershop owner Bronson Diamond. Picture: David Anthony

Stratford’s Eagle Tamer Barbershop owner Bronson Diamond agreed and said many of his clients were keen to show off their facial follicles and that some clients had gone to extraordinary lengths to keep their beards in tip-top condition.

“One bloke wore almost a Turkish veil over his beard so he would not get creases on it as you would under a mask,” Mr Diamond said.

“When the masks come off, the groomed beard and the mullets will stay around, they are not going anywhere and we will see some big, dirty mo’s.”

Cairns Burger Cafe owner, Tina Lei, 35, said she hoped the new rules would return to people heading into town.

The Cairns Burger Cafe on Lake Street. Owner Tina Lei said the previous 12 months had been “difficult”.Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Lei who took over the Aplin St cafe in December 2021, said “it has been the hardest year”.

“Our customers ordering style changed and they would order a grab-and-go meal instead,” Ms Lei said.

“There were definitely a lot less people around the city and we could see the empty parking spaces.”

Ms Lei said she felt although people were used to donning a mask when they were out and about, she knew staff and customers would be happy to leave them at home.

“People are used to wearing the mask and this won’t affect the dining-in customers,” she said.

“We saw clearly how the mandatory mask regulations affected businesses and we encourage people to come out and dine in city restaurants. ”

From Friday at 6pm masks will no longer be required shops, workplaces, schools and hospitality venues. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Originally published as Mask mandate dropped: Cairns businesses welcomes lifted restrictions