23 February 2022

UPDATED: Mask mandate might be lifting but authorities issue stern warning

| Lottie Twyford
Join the conversation
11
Sign warning Canberrans about new mask requirements

Don’t throw your masks away yet. You’ll still need them in some settings and authorities say the mandate could be brought back. Photo: Region Media.

UPDATED 1:30 pm: Despite today’s announcement the indoor mask mandate will largely be lifted from 6 pm on Friday, ACT health authorities have warned it will be back if needed.

Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith once again reiterated concerns about what this coming winter may bring in terms of a spike in COVID-19 cases, as well as a more normal flu season after two years of closed borders.

“The situation can change very quickly, and we’ve said throughout the pandemic that we will never say never,” she said.

“We will constantly be looking at the situation and taking the advice of the Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman.”

Ms Stephen-Smith and Dr Coleman both encouraged people to wear a mask in indoor places where social distancing is challenging or impossible.

Businesses are asked to consider whether mask-wearing for staff and visitors could remain a viable way to protect employees and clients.

Dr Coleman said this is particularly important if the business serves vulnerable clients.

She also said it’s difficult to predict if cases will rise once the mask mandate is lifted.

Authorities have also encouraged people to get their boosters once eligible, keep checking in when required to and practise good respiratory and hand hygiene.

Sir Robert Menzies statue wearing a mask

From Friday, significant changes to the ACT’s mask rules will come into effect at 6 pm – although you will still need to keep one handy. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

The ACT’s mandatory face mask requirements will ease significantly from 6 pm this Friday (25 February).

There will also be adjustments to the mandatory reporting of rapid antigen test results.

The mask changes will further align the ACT with public health settings in both Victoria and NSW.

The government says masks are “strongly recommended”, but they will only be mandatory in the following settings:

  • On public transport, including buses, light rail, taxis, rideshare and demand response vehicles
  • An employee or visitor in a high-risk setting, including hospitals, residential aged care facilities, correctional facilities or residential accommodation facilities
  • A worker who provides services to a person with a disability
  • A worker for in-home and community aged care providers
  • A staff member or visitor in all indoor spaces at a school or early childhood education and care setting. Students in years 7 to 12 are also required to wear a face mask while in an indoor space at school.
  • Inside the Canberra Airport terminal or on a domestic flight in or out of Canberra Airport.

These changes bring the ACT into line with similar mask requirements in NSW and Victoria.

Rachel Stephen-Smith

Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said masks are still encouraged. Photo: Dominic Giannini.

Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said although public health social measures are further easing in the ACT, masks are still highly recommended to mitigate COVID-19 transmission.

“Canberrans are encouraged to continue wearing a face mask in public indoor settings, particularly where it may be difficult to maintain appropriate physical distancing,” she explained.

The government is also encouraging workplaces, particularly those who employ staff in customer-facing roles, to consider what mask-wearing policies they should implement for employees and visitors.

“This is particularly important … especially for those who are likely to be interacting with vulnerable community members,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

Information to assist businesses, venues and organisations in developing and updating COVID Safety Plans can be found on the Business Hub.

READ ALSO International students return to Canberra as borders reopen

Other changes will also come into effect from 11:59 pm on Friday.

It will now be mandatory for anyone who tests positive to a rapid antigen test (RAT) to report their result to ACT Health via the online form at covid19.act.gov.au.

They must also isolate for seven days, in the same way as those who test positive to a PCR test.

Anyone who tests positive, either by PCR test or RAT, is encouraged to take reasonable steps to notify any potential high risk or moderate risk contacts.

Also, from 11:59 pm on Friday, organisers of events with more than 2000 attendees will no longer be required to seek an exemption – as long as they are ticketed or attendees pre-register or use the Check In CBR app.

However, organisers of events for more than 5000 people will still need to submit their COVID Safety Plans for review by ACT Health.

As announced earlier this month, a new update to Check In CBR will be ready by the end of February. This will enable automated app notifications about potential COVID-19 exposures.

Updating the app is required to enable the new functionality.

More to come.

Join the conversation

11
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest

Just shows that in Territories, States and Federally the level of management is sadly lacking. This is a situation that demands proper management and cannot be hidden with spin. To say the level of deaths is statistically low in Australia may be correct but it isn’t if you happen to be one or to the families who have lost loved ones. This could have been avoided with competent management and less emphasis on the “getting the economy going”.

Problem clearly being that shuttering everyone inside or placing heavy handed health restrictions also has negative outcomes and will typically only delay the deaths and sickness, particularly in an area with such high vaccination rates as we have.

There is no government action that can protect people totally from Covid. Deaths will happen, the question is how to minimise them without significantly affecting other parts of society.

I think I will keep wearing a mask. I have gotten used to it, and the cape….hang on where is this going? Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah Batman.

I predict masks back on within two weeks. Have to see what the odds are on Sportsbet

Of all of the restrictions, wearing a mask is the least offensive and in my opinion should have been maintained.

It’s crazy, you have put a mask on to go into an airport, to catch an Uber, a bus or LR, but you don’t have to wear one in a shopping mall, at Bunnings on the weekend or in a crowded nightclub, where people are crawling over each other.

I’m still going to be wearing a mask. I hope I’m not alone here.

kenbehrens, I will be wearing one too, when grocery shopping. At work, no

I too agree that masks are the easiest thing to keep especially now we are so used to them and they should be for a little while yet.

The problem however with leaving up to the individual to choose to continue to wear one is for the most part wearing a masks lowers the risk of an infectious wearer infecting others, it doesn’t do much to minimise a negative wearer getting infected from a unmasked positive person.

So to be effective everyone needs to be wearing one.

JC,
And even then their impact on the spread of infection is low. Which is why they are a good addition in certain situations but aren’t the panacea some people make them out to be.

True especially with cloth masks.

Yes, it concerns me too that the effectiveness of wearing a mask is substantially reduced if you are exposed to a non-mask-wearing person, who has the virus.

The recommendation is to still wear masks if you can’t social distance, but it won’t be a requirement, in most areas. The problem I have with all of this is that it puts the onus on individuals to be “responsible”.

I have cancer and while I’m triple jabbed, will continue to wear a mask and sanitise, I’m now reliant on other people being “responsible”!

kenbehrens, I will be continuing to wear a mask for you and other people. The mask is not just about the wearer.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.