Should I use a face mask?
Wearing a face mask in Australia is recommended by health experts in areas where community transmission of COVID-19 is high, whenever physical distancing is not possible.
Wearing face masks may protect you from droplets (small drops) when a person with COVID-19 coughs, speaks or sneezes, and you are less than 1.5 metres away from them. Wearing a mask will also help protect others if you are infected with the virus, but do not have symptoms of infection.
What can you do to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
Stopping the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s responsibility. The most important things that you can do to protect yourself and others are to:
Stay at home when you are unwell, with even mild respiratory symptoms
■ Regularly wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub
■ Do not touch your face
■ Do not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the virus
■ Stay at least 1.5 metres away from other people
(physical distancing)
■ Cover your mouth when you cough by coughing into your elbow, or into a tissue. Throw the tissue away immediately.
For further information and advice on how to put on and take off a face mask, please click here.