Face coverings will become mandatory in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire as authorities move to restrict visits to aged care centres after 363 new cases of coronavirus and three further deaths in Victoria.
The Victorian government has restricted visits to homes to include carers only, and the federal government will provide funding to ensure casual care staff are not moving between facilities and potentially spreading the virus.
It will also crack down on social distancing in workplaces, where more than 80 per cent of transmission has occurred since mid-May, implementing inspections and fines for employers.
Wearing a face covering – which can be a mask or an item such as a scarf or bandanna – while outdoors will now be mandatory.
Until now, people have been asked to wear a mask if they are undertaking an activity where they cannot safely stay 1.5m from others.
From Sunday, people leaving home for one of the four essential reasons will need to wear face coverings. From 11.59pm on Wednesday, people caught outside without a mask or face-covering could be subject to a $200 fine unless they can demonstrate to police why they should not be wearing one.