New campaign to ‘strongly recommend’ masks amid COVID surge
The Victorian state government is strongly recommending people wear masks indoors and in crowded settings amid an Omicron wave that has doubled the number of COVID-19 hospitalisations in the state in just two weeks.
The state government also announced that Victorians would be required to follow test and isolate requirements if they have flu-like symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19 just four weeks on from a previous infection, rather than 12 weeks on.
The change, which will come into force at 11.59pm on Tuesday, is in line with a recommendation of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee late last week.
Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said in a statement that mask-wearing indoors and in crowded places is “strongly recommended”, but no changes are being made to current face mask rules.
She is also requesting employers consider working from home arrangements that are “most appropriate for their workplace and employees based on individual requirements”.
In Victoria, masks are still required on public transport and in rideshare vehicles, in high-risk settings such as hospitals and aged care facilities, and on domestic and international flights.
A new state campaign titled Stay Well in Winter will emphasise the importance of third and fourth vaccine doses, why people should wear a mask indoors and the benefits of good ventilation.
Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas.Credit:The Age
There has been a 53 per cent increase in the number of Victorians in hospital with COVID-19 over the last two weeks. On Tuesday, there were 737 people in hospital with the virus.
Thomas said the state government is working with community leaders and businesses to share the advice with the Victorian public.
“As we’re seeing across the globe and around Australia, winter means more time inside where COVID-19 and the flu can spread,” she said. “It also means our nurses, ambos and doctors have never worked harder, and we can’t thank them enough.”
Victoria recorded 10,627 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday morning. There are now more than 57,000 active cases across the state.
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