The Department of Health has announced that mask-wearing requirements on all public and passenger transport are to be eased from this Friday (9 September).
In a statement, the Department said mask wearing would still be required for high-risk settings such as hospitals, correctional facilities, residential aged care and disability service facilities.
“Masks are an important measure to reduce transmission, which is why they are still encouraged to be worn in crowded indoor settings where people are unable to physically distance,” the Department said.
“Also effective from Friday, isolation requirements for COVID-19 positive cases and close contacts of COVID-19 positive cases will be reduced from seven days to five days, providing people have no symptoms,” it said.
The Department said staff, elective patients and visitors must enter high-risk facilities, including hospitals, residential aged care facilities and disability support accommodation facilities, only if it had been seven days since they were identified as a case or a close contact.
“To better protect the community, people should continue to follow health protocols and stay home if unwell and only leave their isolation period once all symptoms have cleared,” the Department said.
“Visitation limits will also be eased for residential aged and disability care facilities. These facilities will be able to determine the number of visitors permitted per resident each day.”
It said proof of vaccination would still be required for aged care facilities, in addition to mask-wearing at both aged care and disability care facilities.
