NSW Covid-19: Dr Kerry Chant Begs Aussies To Wear Face Masks AGAIN

Dr Kerry Chant begs Aussies to wear face masks AGAIN as highly infectious new strain of Covid-19 causes a spike in cases and hospitalisations

By Charlie Moore, Political Reporter For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:56 EDT, 4 July 2022 | Updated: 23:01 EDT, 4 July 2022

Dr Kerry Chant has urged NSW residents to wear masks when they can’t socially distance even though it’s not mandatory.

The Chief Health Officer said residents should be considerate and wear a mask when they enter a shop or a crowded indoor public space.

She made the comments in a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday as health officials brace for a winter wave of Covid-19 with two more-infectious sub-strains of the Omicron variant on the loose.

Dr Kerry Chant has urged NSW residents to wear masks when they can’t socially distance even though it’s not mandatory

Currently masks are only mandatory on public transport but the rule is loosely followed and barely enforced.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said: ‘Go back to the basic messages. Wear a mask if you can’t socially distance, definitely wash your hands, wash your hands as much as you possibly can, and stay home if you’re sick

‘What we’re seeing at the moment is BA.4 and BA.5 are increasing in the proportion of people who are getting Covid. And they’re having an effect which is concerning maybe similar to what we saw in January this year, when we had more than 6,000 staff furloughed out of our hospital system.’