PREMIER Daniel Andrews has rejected calls for a public campaign on wearing masks indoors.
The Victorian Greens this week called for a public advertising blitz urging people to wear masks indoors and for greater use of air filters.
But they stopped short of suggesting there should be a mask mandate.
On Monday night, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton also flagged a need to wear a mask indoors.
“This (is) not a technical term, but flu vaccination has been ‘going great guns’ – terrific given the early season and significant case numbers,” he wrote on Twitter.
“This – just like wearing masks indoors – is something to help yourself but also those around you and all our healthcare staff.”
Responding to the Greens’ push, Mr Andrews said people were already free to wear masks if they chose to do so.
“There are some calls for advertising campaigns, I think that every Victoria knows about these issues after having been through the two-and-a-half years that we’ve been through,” he said.
“There are some rules that apply in hospital settings, aged care settings, public transport and people can make a judgment.
“Just as people have made a judgment about whether they can get a flu shot which is now free … and indeed a third (COVID vaccine) dose.
“I just don’t think it’s accurate to say that people don’t know that masks are important.”
When asked about whether he could rule out a future mask mandate, Mr Andrews said any decision was up to the Health Minister and the public health advice received under the pandemic laws.
“I really don’t think that there’s anything served by playing those sorts of games,” he said.
“I’d refer you to the Act. I’m not the person to ask about that because those mandates are not made by me, those decisions are not made as a process of law.”
Greens health spokesman Dr Tim Read said the hospital system was struggling and mask use could help address this.
“We’re not hearing enough from the government about reducing transmission in the community,” he said.
“I’m not convinced that we’re doing enough to voluntarily take measures to reduce the spread of the virus.
“We also did a campaign to encourage Victorians to put masks on in shared indoor venues.
“We need to be hearing more about improving air quality in venues where people aren’t going to wear masks like restaurants and bars where people are eating and drinking.”
There has been a surge in new COVID cases as winter hits, with 8903 positive cases recorded yesterday and 22 deaths. There are close to 50,000 active cases across Victoria.
The Swan Hill local government area recorded 112 new cases since the start of the month, and on May 31, reached 5000 cases since the pandemic. There are close to 100 active cases.
The Health Department yesterday reported that statewide, 517 people were in hospital, with 29 in ICU and five people on a ventilator.
Since the start of the month, there have been 80,000 new cases of COVID-19.
Close to 68 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received at least three vaccine doses.
