Questions about face masks

When do I have to wear a face mask?

If you have been in the following areas, you must carry a face mask with you at all times, unless 14 days have passed since you were last in the area:

• South East Queensland since 1am 29 June 2021, which includes:
  • City of Brisbane
  • Moreton Bay Regional Council
  • City of Gold Coast
  • City of Ipswich
  • Lockyer Valley Regional Council
  • Logan City
  • Noosa Shire Council
  • Redland City
  • Scenic Rim Regional Council
  • Somerset Regional Council
  • Sunshine Coast Regional Council

There are some environments that present a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission whether there is community transmission or not. It is necessary to wear masks in these high-risk environments to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in Queensland.

Identified high risk environments include airports, domestic flights and vehicles transporting people to and from quarantine hotels.

If you are in or have been in an impacted area at any time since 1am AEST 29 June 2021, unless 14 days have passed since you were last in the area, you must follow the mask requirements for the impacted area.

Where do I have to wear a face mask?

If you are in an impacted area listed above, you must wear a face mask at all times when you are outside your home, unless:

• you are alone in your car or with the members of your household
• you are eating or drinking
• you are at your usual workplace and can physically distance from others (except if you work in a hospitality venue or are a passenger transport operator)
• you are alone outdoors or with members of your household
• it is unsafe.

You must carry a face mask and wear it in all indoor areas of a Queensland airport as well as outdoor passenger transport and passenger waiting areas – for example at taxi ranks, public pickup areas, airport car parks, train platforms and skybridges.

If you are in or have been in an impacted area at any time since 1am AEST 29 June 2021 you must follow the mask requirements for the impacted area.

Who doesn’t have to wear a face mask?

#exceptions

If you are in an impacted area, face masks do not have to be worn by:

• infants and children under the age of 12
• anyone in their homes or in temporary accommodation such as holiday accommodation
• anyone in their workplace if they can maintain a 1.5 metre distance from others
• anyone who is outside, including in an outdoor workplace, who can maintain a 1.5 metre distance from people who are not members of their household
• anyone travelling alone in their car or only with members of their household
• school students at education premises including vacation care
• anyone engaged in strenuous physical exercise
• a school student at an education premises or attending vacation care
• anyone eating, drinking or taking medicine
• people engaging in work that requires clear communication or visibility of your mouth, for example teaching and live broadcasting
• anyone who has a medical condition or disability that may be made worse by wearing a mask, including problems with their breathing, a serious skin condition on their face, a mental health condition or experienced trauma
• anyone who is communicating with those who are deaf or hard of hearing, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication
• anyone who has past experiences of trauma and is unable to wear a face mask due to psychological impacts
• anyone whose health and safety would be at risk if they wore a face mask while conducting their work, as determined through Occupational Health and Safety guidelines
• prisoners of corrective facilities or detainees in detention centres, subject to any policies or requirements of a facility
• residents of residential aged care facilities or shared disability accommodation services
• anyone who is being married while in the process of being married
• people during an emergency.

There are also some exceptions to wearing a face mask in airports in Queensland, on domestic flights and in vehicles transporting people to and from quarantine hotels.

These exceptions include:

• children under 12
• a person eating, drinking or taking medicine
• where visibility of the mouth is essential – for example, a person communicating to someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, a teacher or live broadcasting
• a person with a particular medical condition or disability that may be made worse by wearing a mask – for example, a person who has breathing difficulties, a serious skin condition on their face, a mental health condition or psychological impacts from experienced trauma
• a person undergoing medical treatment – for example, a person receiving first aid
• if a person is asked to remove a face mask for identity
• if wearing a mask creates a risk to a person’s health and safety
• in an emergency or when required by law – for example, if a customs officer requires a person to remove their mask for a cavity search
• in any circumstances where it is not safe to wear a face mask
• if you are an air crew member or an airport worker who is not interacting directly with passengers.

If you remove your face mask for any reason, you must put it back on as soon as practicable.

Do I have to provide a medical certificate to prove I can't wear a mask due to my medical condition?

You do not need a medical certificate to prove you have a lawful reason for not wearing a face mask.

If a service provider, school or employer requires you to wear a mask when an exception applies, this may amount to unlawful discrimination.

Find out more information about COVID-19 and human rights.

Do I have to wear a mask if I’m driving a vehicle with no passengers?

No. You do not need to wear a mask if you are driving a vehicle without passengers.

Do I have to wear a face mask if I am not interacting directly with passengers?

Air crew and airport workers who do not interact directly with passengers do not need to wear a mask. If you are in the airport where passengers are present, you must wear a face mask.

What type of mask can I wear? Will it be provided to me?

You must obtain your own face mask. The best face mask is a single-use surgical mask – you can purchase these at pharmacies. If you are unable to get a surgical mask, any cloth mask with at least 3 layers is permitted.

Find out how to use, wear and dispose of a face mask.

How can I wear a face mask if I have a hearing aid or wear garments that cover my head or face?

If you wear a hearing aid we recommend considering wearing a mask that ties around your head, rather than over the ears to ensure the ties do not get tangled in your hearing aid.

There are a range of face masks available that can be worn with traditional and religious garments. These include face masks that are tied around the head, rather than looped over the ears. If you wear a face covering, like a veil or scarf, you should wear your face mask beneath this covering your nose and mouth.

Find out how to use, wear and dispose of a face mask.

How do I stop my face mask fogging up my glasses?

Try one of these tips to help prevent your face mask fogging your glasses:

• make sure your face mask is fitted and pinched on your nose if possible
• put your glasses on after your mask
• wash your glasses with detergent and water to create a film to prevent fogging
• use micropore tape (available at pharmacies) to tape the mask along the bridge of your nose and cheeks, then put your glasses on top
• put a folded tissue across the bridge of your nose, then put your mask on with your glasses on top.

Find out how to use, wear and dispose of a face mask.

How do I wear a mask correctly if I have a big beard?

Ensure the mask covers your nose and mouth, regardless of any facial hair. For non-medical face masks, you do not have to achieve a seal with the mask against the skin of your face.

There are different shapes and sizes of fabric non-medical masks available, some of which may be a more comfortable option if you have facial hair.

Who are air crew and airport workers?

• a pilot or crew member providing essential safety or maintenance functions or cabin crew member actively servicing a commercial domestic flight
• an off-shift pilot or crew member providing essential safety or maintenance functions or cabin crew member travelling to reposition to commence duty in Queensland or another State or Territory
• an aeromedical services crew member providing patient transport or emergency medical care to a patient
• an off-shift aeromedical services crew member who is travelling as a passenger on an aircraft to reposition to commence duty in Queensland or another State of Territory.

• an engineer or other technical staff
• a cleaner
• a baggage handler
• a person involved in the delivery or removal of food, goods or other things in connection with an aircraft
• an employee of an airline other than air crew
• a person providing law enforcement or border security services.

Can I remove my face mask to smoke or use an e-cigarette?

Yes, subject to existing restrictions on smoking in public places in Queensland.

While there isn’t enough evidence to be certain that people who smoke are more likely to be infected by COVID-19, the act of smoking means that fingers are in contact with your lips which increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth.

Find out more about smoking and COVID-19.

How will wearing face masks be enforced?

Airlines can stop someone from boarding a domestic flight or flying with the airline (for a period of time determined by the airline) if they refuse to wear a face mask.

Although airlines are not responsible for enforcing compliance with the Mandatory Face Masks Direction, they can report non-compliance to the Queensland Police Service or Australian Federal Police through their current processes.

Queensland Police Service and Australian Federal Police officers may take action if a person refuses to wear a face mask without a lawful reason. A person may be given a move-on direction to not board a flight or to leave the airport for up to a 24 hour period. If someone refuses a police direction to wear a mask, police officers can issue an on-the-spot fine of $206, an infringement notice, or a notice to appear in court.