Queensland’s Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has not ruled out the re-introduction of mask mandates in light of an increase in COVID-19 cases as the third wave makes its way through the state.
Key points:
- Ms D’Ath said Queensland Health would follow any future advice from the Chief Health Officer
- Queensland recorded 3,971 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, with no deaths
- Ms D’Ath said the third wave of COVID likely has not peaked
Ms D’Ath said there was no recommendation at the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) to re-introduce mandatory masks, but Queensland Health would follow any future advice from the Chief Health Officer (CHO).
“We do remind people as we go through this third wave that they can make those decisions for themselves,” Ms D’Ath said.
“I know just about everyone carries a mask with them, whether it’s in your car or your handbag.
“So if people feel like they’re in a situation where they can’t socially distance and they are particularly vulnerable then, you know, by all means, wear a mask.”
Queensland recorded 3,971 new COVID-19 cases and 32,061 active cases in the past 24 hours, with no deaths.
There were 630 people in hospital, with 18 in intensive care.
Ms D’Ath said it was important that people remember COVID-19 was still having an impact on communities.
“We’re hearing that this wave that we’re in, a third wave, could end up peaking higher than we saw the second wave and we are not at that peak yet,” she said.
“Our health workers would prefer to not have to be caring for people who are seriously unwell from COVID who are in ICU and sadly, who are passing away every week.
“We’ve got over 1,500 staff furloughed again and we ask for everyone’s patience as our hospitals and our health staff do their best to look after everyone in these very trying times.
“There’s something we can do to at least ease the burden on our health workers who are daily dealing with these COVID deaths and that is getting vaccinated and encouraging our loved ones to get vaccinated.
“We are going to keep having waves. We don’t know when the end is going to be.
“We’re going to be living with COVID for a very long time in society, so we do need to move to a more business as usual and that means people taking their own responsibility.”
On Saturday, Queensland CHO John Gerrard told 4BC radio that the return of mask mandates was being “discussed” with his counterparts from other states.
“I can say that nationally, there is increasing pressure, there is a school of thought that we should be mandating masks again,” he said.
Dr Gerrard told the ABC on Saturday that “we are continually reviewing all aspects of our pandemic response including the potential need for mask mandates in different settings”.
“At this stage, no changes are being made,” he said.
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