Victoria to bring back indoor masks

MASKS will become mandatory in all indoor venues outside of the home for Victorians eight years and over, in a bid to curtail rising COVID-19 cases and the spread of the Omicron variant.

Acting Premier James Merlino has announced indoor mask mandates will be expanded in hospitality and office settings from 11.59pm today (Thursday, December 23).

Face masks will also be required at all major events with more than 30,000 patrons.

“This is a sensible response which will allow businesses to stay open, bars and restaurants to continue to stay open and major events to go ahead,” Mr Merlino told reporters.

“Masks are a cheap and effective way to maintain the health of the community – it’s something public health experts have been calling for.”

He said a lockdown was not considered as an option because Victoria was in a strong position due to its high rates of vaccination.

The government will pour an extra $31 million into helping the Commonwealth booster program, while awaiting advice on reducing the third dose interval from the expert immunisation panel.

Federal health officials “highly recommended” wearing masks indoors and other places where social distancing is difficult at yesterday’s national cabinet meeting.

But the nation’s Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said it was up to states and territories as to whether they would achieve that through mandates.

The Victorian government had flagged it would relax mask requirements last week but instead kept mandates in retail settings, for hospitality workers and on public transport, citing the spread of the Omicron variant.

It comes after Victoria reported 2005 new coronavirus cases and 10 deaths, marking the state’s highest daily infection figure since October 22.

With active cases rising past 14,000, community health service provider cohealth has hired an extra 60 staff to support COVID-19 infected people in Melbourne’s west isolate at home during the festive season and into 2022.

It represents a doubling of their staff, who are dropping off festive foods to isolating people and families on Christmas Day and conducting telehealth appointments this week.

Meanwhile, Victoria’s testing system continues to strain under the weight of holidaymakers seeking a swab for interstate travel, with at least 20 sites across Melbourne temporarily closed as of 9am after reaching capacity.

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee will report back to states and territories on whether PCR tests should be required for interstate travel, or can be replaced by rapid antigen tests.

Victorian testers processed 85,112 results yesterday, while 16,758 people were vaccinated in state-run hubs.

A total of 398 patients are in hospital, including 72 who are actively infected with the virus and in intensive care, with 39 on ventilators.

The state’s seven-day hospitalisation average is steady at 391.