March 29, 2021
Queensland Health has clarified mask wearing rules in Queensland after public confusion sparked by comments at Monday morning’s media conference in Brisbane.
From 5:00pm on Monday, ANYWHERE in Queensland (including Greater Brisbane):
1. People must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave home, unless you have a lawful reason not to.
2. People must wear a mask in indoor spaces, such as:
- Shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets and indoor markets
- Hospitals and aged care facilities
- Hospitality venues such as restaurants and cafés (not required for patrons while seated; customer facing staff only)
- Churches and places of worship
- Libraries
- Indoor recreational facilities and gyms (except if doing strenuous exercise eg. high-intensity interval training, cycling, running)
- Indoor workplaces (where safe to wear a mask and you can’t physically distance)
- Public transport, taxis and rideshare, including waiting areas and queues for this transport
- Airports and travelling on planes
Queensland Health also strongly recommends that people wear a mask when outdoors if unable to stay more than 1.5m distance from other people, such as busy walkways and thoroughfares.
Masks do not need to be worn in some circumstances, including children under 12 years, where people have certain medical conditions, and in workplaces where it is not safe to do so.
Masks can be removed to consume food or drink.
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From 5:00pm on Monday, anyone in the Greater Brisbane region must follow the lockdown rules (see below).
The Greater Brisbane region is defined as the City of Brisbane, City of Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay Region and Redland City.
Anyone who was in Greater Brisbane on or since March 20, but has since left, must follow the same lockdown rules (see below) as for Greater Brisbane.
People are able to leave Greater Brisbane area to return to their home outside of Greater Brisbane or for essential reasons but must continue to follow the lockdown rules.
People can travel into Greater Brisbane from surrounding areas for work, healthcare, study or to support a vulnerable person if it is not reasonably practicable to make other arrangements, such as working or studying from home.
People can enter Greater Brisbane to transit through to Brisbane Airport.
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Greater Brisbane Lockdown Rules
Reasons to leave home during the Greater Brisbane lockdown period:
- Shopping for essentials, food and necessary supplies
- Medical or healthcare needs, including compassionate requirements
- Exercise with no more than one other person, unless all from the same household
- Providing care or assistance to an immediate family member
- Work, or volunteering, or study if it is not reasonably practicable to work or learn remotely
- Child custody arrangements
- Legal obligations
- Visit for end of life
- Attend funeral or wedding in line with restrictions
- In emergency situations
- To escape harm
- If you entered the impacted area responding to an emergency as an emergency health services or emergency service worker or national defence, State security or police officer
- If required to allow an essential service to occur such as the transport of freight in and out of Greater Brisbane
- You’re directed to leave by an emergency health officer
- You have an exemption from the Chief Health Officer
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- More information is available on the Queensland Health website
