If you live within metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire, you must wear a face covering whenever you leave your home, unless an exception applies. A face covering needs to cover both your nose and mouth. It could be a face mask or shield.
‘Wearing a face covering is a small action – but it can make a big difference.
And it’s one of those things where the more people do it, the exponentially bigger that difference becomes.
That’s why Victoria’s Chief Health Officer is making it a requirement – not just a recommendation.
Here’s how it’ll work:
If you live in metro Melbourne or Mitchell Shire and you need to leave home for one of the four essential reasons, you must have a covering over your mouth and nose.
If you’re travelling into regional Victoria for work or care reasons, that covering will need to remain on for the entire time you’re there.
If you live in regional Victoria, you’ll need to wear a face covering if you visit metro Melbourne or Mitchell Shire – and we’re still recommending you wear one in your local area if you can’t physically distance.
There are a few exceptions. Kids under 12, those who have a professional or medical reason – or if it’s just not practical, like when you’re out running.
In our schools, that’ll mean teachers don’t have to wear a face covering while teaching – but students attending for VCE, VCAL or for onsite supervision will. Everyone will be expected to wear one on the way to and from school.
This requirement won’t be enforced until 11:59pm on Wednesday 22 July to give people a chance to buy or make a covering – but if you already have one, please start wearing it now. And if you don’t have a mask, a scarf is better than nothing.
As with everything, this shouldn’t be about looking for loopholes.
It’s about each of us doing something small to keep everyone around us safe.
If I’m wearing a covering, I’m helping to protect you. If you’re wearing one, you’re helping to protect me.
And if we all wear one, we’re all doing our bit to slow the spread.’ Daniel Andrews
