Face masks will be made mandatory in Melbourne and the neighbouring Mitchell Shire, as the Australian state of Victoria fights to bring an outbreak of Covid-19 under control.
According to The Age, the directive was announced by state premier Daniel Andrews on Jul. 19 and will come into effect on Wednesday (Jul. 22) at 11:59pm.
Thereafter, those caught outside without masks could be subject to a A$200 (S$195) fine.
"It's a simple thing but it's about changing habits," said Andrews.
He added that "common sense would be the rule here", explaining that certain activities were exempt from the mask-wearing requirement, including going for a run, visiting a bank, or teaching in a classroom.
However, even people with excuses will be required to carry a mask when they leave the home, reported The Age.
Bandanas and scarves will also be accepted as a face covering, while the state waits on a shipment of masks to arrive.
Second wave of infections
Victoria is currently in the midst of a second wave of Covid-19 infections after an initial easing of lockdown restrictions in June.
The emergence of new cases forced the state back into lockdown on Jul 8, while other states closed their borders to individuals travelling from Victoria, reported CNN.
In-state border restrictions were also applied so as to limit the virus' spread across the state.
According to CNA, this latest decision by the state government makes Melbourne — Australia's second-biggest city — the first place in the country to mandate the use of face coverings.
Until now, face coverings have not been common in Australia.
Andrews on July 19 announced 363 new cases of Covid-19 in the state, as well as three further deaths.
Australia as a whole has recorded 11,802 cases of the virus, with 122 deaths. As of Jul. 19, The Age reported that 3,047 of the confirmed cases were considered "active".
Top image from Wayne Yew and Anshu A via Unsplash