Mask mandate introduced in ACT to stop Omicron spread
The ACT is reintroducing an indoor mask mandate after calls from the nation’s top medical adviser. Here’s how our rules compare with the world.
The ACT is reintroducing an indoor mask mandate from 11.59pm on Tuesday.
In a statement, the health department said that residents must wear a mask in all indoor settings, including retail stores, work and public transport in Canberra.
Acting Chief Minister Yvette Berry said with the Omicron variant taking hold just over the border in NSW, wearing a mask indoors could reduce risk of further spread.
“In the past week we have seen a significant increase in case numbers in the ACT, and around half of our active cases have been confirmed as the Omicron variant,” she said.
It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison resisted advice on mask mandates by the nation’s top medical adviser ahead of Wednesday’s emergency national cabinet meeting.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly has written to the Prime Minister, state premiers and territory chief ministers calling for masks to be imposed before numbers escalate.
But Mr Morrison said Australia needed to shift from mandates to a culture of personal responsibility and choice as the nation lives to learn with the virus.
“That’s how we live with the virus into the future,” he said.
“In my home state of NSW, people are already wearing masks. They are not being fined if they don’t, because Australians know what is a common sense responsible action to look after their own health and to look after the health of those around them.”
“We’re not going back to lockdowns, we’re not going back to shutting down people’s lives. We’re going forward to live with this virus with common sense.”
Speaking on behalf of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), Prof Kelly said mask mandates should be reimposed “prior to Omicron case escalation to have maximum benefit”.
It comes as a study examining the connection between wearing face masks and a reduction in Covid-19 deaths found that countries that implemented national mask mandates had lower death rates per million people than countries that did not enforce mask rules.
Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine last month, the study examined 44 countries in Asia and Europe, including Greece, Germany, South Korea, Italy, the UK, Sweden and Hong Kong. Throughout the pandemic, mask mandates have come and gone, but are on the rise again as cases caused by the Omicron variant cause a growing global surge of infections.
As Omicron variant coronavirus cases rise in Australia, health authorities have implemented these rules about wearing masks in public:
NSW
Masks are only required on public transport and in airports, or for indoor front-of-house hospitality staff who are not fully vaccinated.
VIC
Face masks are mandatory in certain key, high-risk settings such as airports, shared transport, hospitals, prisons, aged care, detention centres etc. They are not required for hair or beauty appointments.
QLD
Masks are required in shops, retail outlets, public transport, airports, planes, hospitals, aged care facilities, prisons and detention centres.
WA
Wearing a face mask is mandatory in WA while at an airport, travelling on aircraft, or transporting a person subject to a quarantine direction.
TAS
Masks are mandatory across all indoor settings, public transport and ride shares.
SA
Masks are currently mandatory in health care services, passenger transport services, high risk settings, airports and aeroplanes, personal care, indoor public places and for people in quarantine. They are also strongly recommended for indoor workplaces and adult learning environments and optional in childhood education services.
ACT
Masks must be worn in all indoor settings including retail stores, work and public transport.
How do Australia’s mask policies compare globally? Here are the countries that have currently mandated mask wearing:
US
With the Omicron variant now detected in 39 out of 50 US states, federal mask mandates have been extended until March 18 in an effort to curb the spread.
The federal requirement to wear a mask over the nose and mouth applies to people riding the bus, train and planes
Last week, a statewide mask mandate for California was reinstated for indoor public places and will last at least a month.
California joins seven other states (Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington) and Puerto Rico in requiring most people to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.
UK
Face masks are now compulsory in most public settings in England such as shops, pubs, cinemas, theatres and places of worship.
The government previously reintroduced masks on public transport and at transport hubs.
Under-12s are exempt, as are those who can’t wear face coverings for medical reasons.
In Scotland and Ireland, masks must be worn in most indoor public settings and on public transport.
EUROPE
Austria
Masks are required on public transport and in indoor spaces.
Belgium
Masks are no longer required outdoors but remain compulsory in indoor spaces such as shops, places of worship and public transport.
Cyprus
The wearing of face masks continues to be mandatory.
Denmark
Now requires face masks in public after ditching the rule previously.
France
Requires masks in public areas throughout the country.
Germany
Has implemented new mask mandates and tightened restrictions, including that people must wear medical-grade masks.
Greece
Masks must be worn in all indoor public places.
Hungary
Masks must be worn in hospitals, institutions, and on public transport.
Italy
Has mandated wearing a mask both indoors and outside in public spaces.
Norway
Masks are compulsory in public spaces for everyone over the age of 12, unless you are exempt.
Portugal
Face masks must be worn in public in addition to social distancing and hygiene measures enforced in all public settings.
Romania
Locals and visitors must wear a mask when in indoor public spaces, as well as while in outdoor gatherings.
Spain
Masks are mandatory in public spaces indoors and outdoors for everyone over the age of 6.
Russia
In Moscow, masks are required in shops and on public transport.
Ukraine
Indoor mask-wearing is mandatory in all public spaces.
MIDDLE EAST
Israel
Israel and the Palestinian Territories banned entry of all foreign visitors and reinstated its mask mandates.
Turkey
Indoor and outdoor mask-wearing is mandatory.
UAE
Masks are required indoors but can be removed when doing exercise or outdoors at a beach or pool.
SOUTH AFRICA
Mask wearing is compulsory everywhere outside the ghome with a few exceptions such as exercise or eating and drinking.
ASIA
China and Hong Kong
Mask wearing is required in public places and is strictly enforced as part of the “zero Covid” policy.
Indonesia
It is mandatory for people to wear masks when leaving home. In Jakarta, masks are compulsory even in private cars and fines are imposed to those breaking the rules.
Japan
There is no legal mask requirement but they are recommended in public places.
Malaysia
Masks in public are mandatory.
Philippines
Masks must be work when leaving home.
Singapore
Masks must be worn indoors and outdoors in public spaces with the exception only of exercising or eating and drinking.
South Korea
Masks have been mandatory indoors throughout the pandemic and only allowed to be removed when eating or drinking.
Taiwan
Masks are required in most public spaces.
Thailand
People are required to wear masks while in public spaces and while doing activities in groups.
Vietnam
Masks are mandated in public nationwide with no exceptions.
LATIN AMERICA
Argentina
Masks are required indoors and outdoors in public.
Brazil
In Sao Paulo, its largest city, the public mask mandate has been extended.
Chile
Masks are requited in outdoor public spaces regardless of vaccination status.
Costa Rica
Masks are not required outdoors but there is a government mask mandate on indoor spaces outside of the home.
El Salvador
Masks are mandated indoors and outdoors, outside the home.
Mexico
Masks are required at places of work and recommended indoors when social distancing isn’t possible.
Peru
Masks are compulsory in public places, on the streets, with an additional shield recommended in closed spaces.
More Coverage
Originally published as Mask mandate introduced in ACT to stop Omicron spread
Join the conversation
State’s big move on cutting-edge vaccines
One Aussie state has revealed its next move on a major vaccine development project – which promises to change the way it responds to future health challenges.
Read more
$1.1m plan to overhaul Long Covid, chronic fatigue care
Guidelines to treat the 750,000-plus Australians who have Long Covid and chronic fatigue syndrome are more than two decades old. See the plan to fix them.
Read more