Face masks are no longer required on all public transport in NSW
Commuters in NSW no longer need to wear a mask on public transport with the often-ignored rule to finally be scrapped.
Masks will be voluntary on all modes of transport, including taxis and ride-hailing services from Wednesday, Premier Dominic Perrottet announced.
‘This is a common sense approach that brings the rules into line for people travelling on buses or trains with those for planes and airport terminals,’ he said.
NSW is finally scrapping mandatory masks on public transport, a rule that has been increasingly ignored
NSW Health still advised people to wear masks where they could not physically distance from others, and where there were vulnerable people or those at high risk of severe illness.
‘Continuing to wear a mask in crowded areas will be particularly important for people who have underlying health conditions or who are vulnerable to Covid-19 infection for other reasons,’ Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.
‘Wearing a mask in these settings will not only protect those around you, but will also reduce your risk of infection.’
Requirements to isolate for at least five days after testing positive will stay in force and Mr Hazzard warned NSW residents to keep getting tested.
‘We can all continue to help protect each other, but particularly those most vulnerable to Covid-19 infection, by staying at home when feeling unwell, taking a Covid-19 test straight away and self-isolating,’ he said.
Mask wearing will now be voluntary on public transport except Victoria and ACT but it is advised in certain situations
Transport Minister David Elliott said he welcomed the decision to bring the mask mandate for commuters in line with rules in other states, domestic travel, venues and events.
‘Everyone has demonstrated throughout this pandemic that they will do what is required to protect themselves and each other from Covid-19 and I have no doubt they will continue to do so,’ he said.
‘Commuters will be pleased to hear this news as they will now able to make a personal decision and have a choice about when they wear a mask – particularly in outdoor public transport areas.’
NSW introduced the current mask mandates at in the middle of 2021 and has kept them in place despite the rule being increasingly ignored.
Even notoriously Covid-paranoid Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan abolished the public transport mask mandate from September 9.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said scrapping mandatory masks on public transport was a common sense move
Despite compulsory masks being in force long after the indoor mandate was scrapped in February, increasingly fewer passengers wore them.
Even a large minority of bus drivers in the past few months didn’t bother to put them on, and well before that didn’t ask passengers too.
Mask wearing will stay mandatory at public hospitals, private health facilities, and residential aged care facilities.