Face masks are still required in these situations:
in healthcare settings, residential aged care, disability accommodation, prisons or detention centres
on public transport, including while waiting on the platform or at a stop
in a taxi, rideshare vehicle or commercial shuttle, including while waiting at a taxi rank or pick-up area
in airports and on planes
when outside of your home or accommodation if:
you have a temperature equal to or higher than 37.5 degrees
you have COVID-19 symptoms
you’re awaiting a COVID-19 PCR test result
if you’re diagnosed with COVID-19, are a close contact, or are an international traveller (in accordance with other public health directions).
Masks are not currently required in schools - including for staff, students and visitors - but schools may have their own mask policies.
Masks are still recommended whenever you can’t socially distance.
Children under 12 years and people affected by a medical condition or disability do not have to wear a face mask. See exceptions from wearing face masks.
Taxis and rideshares
Masks must be worn in taxis, rideshares and commercial shuttles, including ranks and designated pick-up areas.
Masks must be worn at all times by both driver and passenger, unless the driver is alone in the vehicle.
Queensland airports
You must wear a face mask in all indoor areas of a Queensland airport, as well as outdoor passenger transport and passenger waiting areas such as carparks and taxi ranks.
Air crew and airport workers who are not interacting directly with passengers do not need to wear a face mask.
Domestic commercial flights
You must wear a face mask at all times if you are on a domestic commercial flight while the plane is at a Queensland airport or in Queensland airspace.
Check to see if your destination state or territory has similar rules in place regarding the wearing of face masks on planes and in airports.
Transport drivers
All transport drivers transporting people required to quarantine to or from government nominated quarantine must have a transport plan and be endorsed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads. This plan outlines personal protective equipment requirements, including the wearing of face masks.
Quarantined persons
If you are required to quarantine, you must wear a face mask at all times while travelling from the airport to your quarantine location.
Exceptions from wearing face masks
There are some exceptions to wearing a face mask, including:
when you are eating, drinking or taking medicine
children under 12
when you are undertaking a disaster recovery or clean-up activity
performing work where clear visibility of the mouth is required, e.g. a speech therapist in a hospital or healthcare setting
where a mask needs to be removed to clearly communicate
a person with a particular medical condition or disability
a person who works on public transport infrastructure who does not have any interaction with the public and can socially distance (subject to your employer’s requirements)
a resident of a residential aged care facility or a shared disability accommodation service (subject to any policies or requirements of a facility or service)
a prisoner in a corrective services facility or a detainee in a detention centre (subject to any policies or requirements of that facility or centre)
if you are an air crew member or airport worker who is not interacting directly with passengers
if a person is asked to remove a face mask for identity purposes
if wearing a mask creates a risk to a person’s health and safety
in an emergency or when required by law
in any circumstances when it’s not safe to wear a mask.
A person who removes their face mask under an exemption must resume wearing a face mask as soon as practical.
You do not need a medical certificate to prove you have a lawful reason for not wearing a face mask. If you cannot wear a mask for a medical reason, it is recommended you wear a face shield.
Healthcare setting means a public or private health facility where healthcare is primarily accessed via face-to-face services provided to residents, patients, clients and others.
Examples of a healthcare setting include:
public hospitals, public health clinics, ambulance services, patient transport services, and other health services; or
private health facilities, such as private hospitals or day procedure centres, or specialist outpatient services; or
residential aged care facilities; or
shared disability accommodation services; or
private provider facilities, such as general practitioners, private nurse offices and allied health consulting offices, pharmacies, optometrists, dental clinics, medical imaging providers and private pathology centres; or
not for profit health organisations providing public healthcare under a service agreement with any State or Commonwealth agency, including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Service; or
Non-Government Organisations (NGO) delivering healthcare services, for example Alcohol and other Drugs residential rehabilitation and treatment services; healthcare services on a Hospital and Health Service campus, for example, breast screening services, integrated mental health Step Up Step Down models; or
Outreach services in other settings provided by the facilities in paragraphs (a) to (d), including (but not limited to) healthcare services delivered to a client or patient in their home; or
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood collection centres; or
disability support services delivered to a client patient in their home;
aged care services funded by the Australian Government and delivered to a client or patient in their home; or
mobile services such as mobile dental clinic van or mobile health promotion van.
A person solely providing healthcare services from their home or another location via telehealth and who is not providing any in-person services is not considered in-scope for the purposes of this Direction.
Where a healthcare is provided within part of an indoor space that is primarily accessed by people for purposes other than healthcare, the Direction applies only to the part of the indoor space where the healthcare is provided. For example, where a physiotherapist operates within a gym, the Direction applies to the space where the physiotherapist is providing the face-to-face services, but not to the other spaces in the gym.