On Sunday night the ACT Government announced they would be implementing a face mask mandate for “crowded indoor spaces” across Canberra from Monday 28 June.
With the 48-hour grace period over and the mandate now enforceable, CW surveyed the community to get a sense of public sentiment on the order.
“I’m glad we’re not locked down”
Tam of Palmerston thought the mandate was a “good idea” following the weekend’s Braddon hotel incident.
On Saturday 25 June, ACT police ordered more than 50 Sydneysiders to return home from a Braddon hotel.
“There’s not a lot else we can do, I’m glad we’re not locked down,” she said.
Tam however believed the implementation still needs a bit of work.
“It doesn’t make sense in some bits, for example, at work I can wear it into the lobby and then take it off,” she said.
“If you’re going out to eat or whatever, you wear your mask up until you order your food and then you sit down and take it off; it defeats the purpose a little bit.”
“People are taking it pretty seriously”
A regular fixture at the Dickson shops prior to the pandemic, Bradley from Campbell had busked outside the Woolies with his guitar for 20 years until restrictions came into place back in March 2020.
He said he was happy to follow the medical advice and believes the Canberra-wide mask mandate is “necessary”.
“I know very little about medical matters and I’m pretty happy that there are people that do, and I believe them.
“Norman Swan on RN tells us that we’re on a knife’s edge, in that beautiful calming Scottish accent of his.”
On Monday morning he ventured into the city for a medical appointment having not yet heard the news of the mask mandate.
“I didn’t know what was going on,” he said.
“I was walking into town, and I did not see one unmasked face, which made me feel pretty proud to be Canberran,” he smiled.
“People were taking it pretty seriously even though there’s nothing here.”
Mandate not “terribly well thought out”
Maurice of Ainslie said the face mask mandate is “understandable” but doesn’t believe the execution has been particularly well conceived.
“I don’t think it’s been terribly well thought out, but I guess that’s a function of having to do something to show that they are doing something,” he said.
“It’s a Labor government isn’t it; you’d think they’re progressive wouldn’t you rather than reactionary conservatives.
Regardless of whether the policy effectively reduces any community transmission, Maurice said it will act as a timely reminder.
“If they reckon it will help with the spread of the delta virus it’s understandable, whether or not it’s well researched or the like, I guess that’s up to the medical community.
“I’m not sure on the basis of medical evidence that what they’re dong will actually help that much, but I guess it reminds people that there is a virus going around and you need to wash your hands and so on.”
“It doesn’t hurt to have a wakeup call”
Paula from Adelaide has found herself in Canberra after visiting her grandchildren in Waverley, Sydney prior to the outbreak.
“Those few hot spots came out and we hadn’t been to any of them and then we thought we’d get to Canberra and stay in town for the 14 days.”
She will have to isolate upon returning home this Friday.
“Four days in and South Australia closes the borders,” she smiled, “we thought we were so clever, but anyway, it’s better, I’m happy.”
Paula is fully supportive of the mandate and believes “It doesn’t hurt to have a wakeup call”.
“We have a son who lives in Germany, and he reads what’s happening in Australia with a bit of a laugh because it’s so serious over there but they’re just getting on with life,” she said.
“You don’t have to wear masks, the borders are open, you can travel anywhere, so I think we’re lucky being here because I’d rather have the less risk and the government taking it seriously.”’
Masks make “a drastic difference”
Jasper from Watson said the Canberra mask mandate is a completely understandable “proactive measure”.
“I think this is a proactive measure, and I think it’s the best we can do,” he said.
“If we don’t have those very high restrictions, people will take advantage of that and be slack with it.”
Carter from O’Connor moved to Canberra from Melbourne at the start of the year and said masks are “important” and make a “drastic difference” in lowering Covid rates.
“Last year I was used to face masks,” he said.
“I think it’s an important step for pretty much everywhere in Australia at the current time.”
Carter said he’s been “very impressed” by the number of people he’s seen wearing masks across Canberra since the mandate came into effect at the start of the week.
“I’ve seen a lot of people wearing them, but occasionally you see people with them under their nose; that I don’t agree with, you should wear them properly.”
