Guidance on wearing face masks

It is recommended to wear a face mask when you can’t physically distance from others.

In some settings in NSW, it is mandatory to wear a face mask, including

• at a public hospital or private health facility (including private hospitals and day procedure centres)
• in residential care facilities or hostels
• in indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people
• on public transport and public transport waiting areas (including in taxis and rideshare services)
• at a cruise terminal
• in airports and on a domestic commercial aircraft (including when the aircraft is flying above NSW).

If you are over the age of 12 and are a household or close contact of someone who has tested positive to COVID-19, you must also wear a face mask when you are in an indoor setting that is not your own home, including workplaces and tertiary education settings. School settings may have their own guidance for students which should be followed.

See face mask rules and exemptions.

From Monday 28 February, school staff and students are no longer required to wear masks in NSW schools.

Household contacts must wear a mask if they are in an indoor setting that is not their own home, including work or tertiary education settings. Understand more by reading household and close contact guidelines.

• Wash or sanitise your hands before putting on or taking off your mask.

• Ensure the mask covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly under your chin, over the bridge of your nose and against the sides of your face. 

• Refrain from touching the front of your mask while wearing or removing it. 

• Do not allow the mask to hang around your neck or under your nose. 

• When removing your mask, avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth at all times. 

• Do not reuse single-use masks. 

Use single-use masks made with a non-woven, melt-blown polypropylene layer. Typically these are the pale blue or white medical style masks, also known as surgical masks.

Don't use masks with holes or a valve, as you will breathe out the virus if you have COVID-19. The main value of wearing a mask is to protect other people.  

Buy single-use masks from reputable retail outlets including chemists and supermarkets.

Be aware of fake masks. Increased demand for surgical masks is leading to masks entering the Australian market that do not meet Australian safety standards.

Learn more about how to identify fake masks. 

Contact NSW Fair Trading to report a mask that you believe is defective, unsafe or not otherwise fit for purpose. 

Cloth masks are effective in reducing transmission of COVID-19 to other people when they are made and worn correctly. 

To ensure adequate protection, cloth masks should have at least 3 layers of fabric. See instructions for how to make a cloth mask.  

Cloth masks are less effective when damp. Cloth masks should be washed after each use or at least daily. Reusing a cloth mask without washing can lead to self-contamination.

• Remove your mask outside and away from other people, if possible. 
• Grasp the ear loops or untie the ties. For masks with a pair of ties, unfasten the bottom one first, then the top one.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth at all times. 
• Dispose of single-use masks responsibly in a general rubbish bin. Where possible, put masks into a sealed bag before disposal to ensure others won’t touch it. 
• Don’t put disposable masks in the recycling. Most single-use masks contain soft plastics and cannot be recycled. They can also get caught in recycling equipment and be a hazard to waste management workers. 
• Wash and dry reusable cloth masks after each use. 

  • Store in a plastic or zip-lock bag until you can wash them.  

  • Wash cloth masks in the washing machine  in hot water (between 60C to 90C) with other clothes. If hand washing, wash thoroughly with soap in hot water.  

  • Lay flat to dry (in the sun if possible) or put in the dryer.   

  • Store in a clean, dry place.

Face shields

Face shields are not a substitute for face masks, however if you are unable to wear a mask due to an exemption, you may find it easier to wear a face shield.  

Ensure the face shield covers the sides of your face and below the chin. 

Clean and disinfect reusable face shields after each use.

Wear disposable face shields only once.

Scarfs and bandanas 

A scarf or bandana is not recommended as they do not offer the same amount of protection as a well-fitted mask. Using a scarf is also an infection risk, because they are re-used.