Time To Face Change To Masks
The time has come for face masks to be optional - not mandatory - in areas of Victoria where there are no cases of Coronavirus.
The Liberal Member for Western Victoria, Beverley McArthur, said masks are of questionable benefit for many people.
“Masks have a place where transmission is possible with at-risk people – those in aged care, with compromised immune systems, other specific health concerns and of course, in health facilities, themselves if medical experts deem them essential.
“But in almost all other circumstances, masks should be optional” Mrs McArthur said.
“It is ridiculous that people in Covid-free regional Victoria are walking along country roads on their own, or in parks and gardens such as Lake Wendouree in Ballarat but are being forced to wear masks for fear of fines.
“This isn’t stopping the spread of the virus – but it might be stopping some people from getting out for vital exercise.
“People out walking tell me they feel ill after a short time, including episodes of nausea and shortness of breath.
“Other people who wear prescription glasses - especially older people at risk of falls – are saying their glasses fog up and they literally can’t see where they are going.
“These people are in more danger of falling over and breaking a leg than they are of catching or transmitting the virus,” Mrs McArthur said.
However, during his press conference on Sunday, the Premier dismissed the concerns saying “I reckon I can deal with some foggy glasses – I reckon you can too”.
He went on to say mask wearing was an “esoteric debate”.
“The first edict from Chief Health Officers across Australia was that face masks were not required – then they were encouraged.
“Victoria then went alone in going further - forcing masks to become mandatory – and allowing scarves, neck warmers, bandanas, plastic shields to act as masks.
“On the weekend, the Premier then extended the tyranny by only allowing fitted face masks, banning scarves, shields and bandanas.
However, the DHHS website is still advising that these are okay to wear.
“Perhaps the DHHS rejects the Premier’s new control rule or is DHHS once again proving it’s slow to act and react. Through shabby contact tracing DHHS itself, has proven more of a Covid risk than not wearing masks,” Mrs McArthur said.
The Federal Health advice from the Department of Health says: Where there is low community transmission of COVID-19, wearing a mask in the community when you are well is not generally recommended.
No other state in Australia has required masks to be worn outside the home mandatorily and have only encouraged or recommended masks for places where social distancing is not possible, where there is known transmission, or when directly caring for someone with the virus, or suspected of having the virus.
None impose fines such as Victoria’s $200.
The NT goes so far as to recommend taxi drivers ‘open vehicle windows where possible’.
“These statistics clearly show that states where masks have not been mandatory – the rates of infection and death have remained low.
“The state where the most deaths and contagion have resulted is Victoria – where masks are mandatory and fines imposed,” Mrs McArthur said.
Mrs McArthur also said mask wearing appeared not to have stopped health care workers contracting the virus. So either their efficacy is questionable or our healthcare staff are not being provided with the best available mask variety.
Sadly, there is only one reason Victoria has had this escalation in cases and deaths - the abject failure of hotel quarantine and totally inadequate contact tracing.
“The Premier says face masks are about keeping us safe – he has singularly failed to keep us safe and he stands alone in Australia - as an enforcer of his version of mandatory masks with fines, especially in non-Covid areas.”
30 September 2020