In a first for the ACT, face masks will be mandatory on public transport, supermarkets, shopping centres and other indoor “risky areas” across Canberra from midnight tonight, Sunday 27 June.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced the move this afternoon, saying face masks will be required in any indoor area where “you’ll be in contact with people that you don’t normally live with or work with”.
“In an indoor setting, if you’re going to be close to people that you don’t know, the best thing you can do to prevent the risk of spreading the virus in the ACT is to wear a mask,” he said.
“If you’re in doubt, wear a mask.”
If you’re in a public facing role in a workplace you will be required to wear a mask. They will not be required in normal office settings void of contact with the public.
In ACT hospitality venues, face masks can be removed while eating or drinking, however food service staff will be required to “mask up”.
“If you’re going to stay in the venue for a long period of time it’s appropriate to wear a mask,” Mr Barr said.
ACT residents and businesses will have 48 hours to organise face masks and adapt to the changes, with authorities set to be “educating the community” before moving into a more “serious enforcement” following the grace period.
Where are face masks required in the ACT?
On public transport service or at a public transport waiting area, including:
- Taxi services
- Rideshare services
- Bus and light rail services
- Community transport services
- Stations or platforms for rail/bus/lightrail
- Bus stops and taxi ranks (including any area where people queue or gather)
In indoor retail premises or business premises that provide goods or services to members of the public who attend the premises (other than a hospitality venue, health service or kiosk), including the following:
- Supermarkets
- Shopping centres (including food courts)
- Bank branches
- Post offices
- Hairdressing salons
- Nail salons
- Beauty salons (removal of the face covering is permitted if necessary for the proper provision of the goods and services)
- Tanning salons
- Waxing salons
- Spas
- Tattoo parlours
- Massage parlours
- Betting agencies
- Community centres, youth centres or facilities
- Auction houses
- Real estate auctions / display homes / open homes
- Galleries / museums / national institutions
In any indoor part of premises licensed under the Liquor Act that is used primarily for the purposes of gaming, including a gaming lounge
In indoor entertainment facilities including:
- Cinemas or movie theatres
- Events and event performances
In indoor premises being used for public worship or religious services, including places of worship
Visiting or working within residential aged care facilities. (Note: residents of an aged care facility are exempt.)
Working at a hospitality venue in the ACT in a role which requires you to deal directly with members of the public. This includes:
- casinos
- food and drink premises
- micro-breweries and small distilleries
- pubs
- registered clubs
- small bars
When can I take off my face mask?
You can remove a fitted face covering when:
- Eating or drinking
- Communicating with another person who is deaf or hard of hearing
- At work and the nature of your work makes the wearing of a fitted face covering a risk to your health and safety or another person’s health and safety
- Clear enunciation or visibility of the person’s mouth is essential
- In an emergency
- Removal of the covering is necessary for the proper provision of the goods and services
Does everyone need to wear a face mask?
Face mask requirements do not apply to:
- Persons aged 12 years or under
- A person with a physical or mental health illness or condition, or disability that makes wearing a fitted face covering unsuitable including for example a skin condition, an intellectual disability, autism or trauma.
Why do I have to wear a mask?
Mr Barr said the mandate was the next stage in the ACT’s response to “the deteriorating situation in NSW”.
“It’s clear from NSW and some other states that the delta variant is transmitting in the air, in indoor settings,” he said.
Despite the ACT having not yet recorded a case of COVID in Australia’s most recent outbreak, Mr Barr said the mask mandate was “necessary to protect the community”.
“It doesn’t solve everything, but it’s an important step we can take to reduce the risk of transmission,” he said.
As of now, there will be no restrictions on gatherings or group numbers, but the Chief Minister said such constraints would be necessary if any cases were to pop up in the ACT.
Mr Barr said that while the ACT was yet to record a case of COVID-19 as a result of the Sydney outbreak, thousands of people in Canberra have indicated they were recently in Greater Sydney.
“Mask wearing remains just one of many measures that all Canberrans can use to reduce their risk of spreading or contracting the virus. Keeping your distance from people and good hand hygiene should be a part of our lives now.”
The ACT Government also asks Canberrans to keep checking into venues using the CheckIn CBR app.
“It’s a really simple way to help with any contact tracing that may be required,” Mr Barr said.
Although the use of face masks will become mandatory from midnight tonight (12.01am Monday 28 June), there will be a 48-hour transition period for businesses and the community to adapt to these new requirements.
For further details on the face mask requirements, visit the ACT COVID-19 website.
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- – Nick Fuller and Denholm Samaras
For more COVID-19 news:
- ACT Health updates travel directions for Greater Sydney and surrounds
- ACT Policing to increase health direction compliance
- Updated: ACT to shut border to Greater Sydney
Need a mask? Read our DIY face masks article to make your own.
