Elsie Adamo
THE requirement to wear masks at most indoor public places has been lifted today but it may cause unintended problems for businesses.
Announced this week by Premier Peter Malinauskas, mask and QR code requirements have been dropped for most indoor settings from today.
People in high-risk settings such as hospitals, aged care facilities, public transport and residential disability facilities will still be required to wear masks and check-in.
The changes bring the restrictions closer in line to other Australian states which have been maskless since earlier in the year.
Owner of Mount Gambier’s Metro Bakery and Café Toni Vorenas said while the lifting of masks will make things easier on customers, it poses problems for her staff.
As the definition currently stands, close contacts are any unmasked persons who have had close interaction (within 1.5 metres) indoors with someone that is Covid-19 positive for a cumulative 4-hour period.
While the current definition is enough to save the café’s customers from becoming close contacts, it is a different story for staff.
“I am not pro-masks or anti-masks,” Ms Vorenas said.
“I am happy about them coming off; I can see why a lot of people are relieved about it as well.
“The problem is that they have not changed the close contact definition.
“As it stands if my staff are not in masks, one person gets Covid and then the whole team has to go into isolation and we would have to shut.”
Hospitality venues in particular have been subject to strict and confusing pandemic rules.
For example: capacity limits on venues based on event type, bans on dancing and singing except in specific circumstances, and maskless drinking and eating are allowed but individuals are required to be masked when walking to a venue’s toilet.
Food and beverage manager at the Mount Gambier Hotel and South Eastern Hotel Bri Bytheway said staff were more than ready for masks to come off.
“We think it is good all-round, we are looking forward to it,” Ms Bytheway said.
“It will be great for the customers because the rules have been a bit confusing for them.
“Our staff will not have to police that people are wearing masks anymore.”
The easing in restrictions coincides with Easter long weekend when many are expected to travel across the State.
A decision on masks in schools will be made closer to the end of the school holidays.
