Covid-19 Australia: The rule that may be in place ‘for years’ as Australia plans way out of lockdown

Dire warning Australians may have put up a hated Covid restriction for YEARS even with high vaccination rates – and ‘God help us if there’s another variant’

• Australians could be forced to wear masks ‘for years’ in certain indoor settings
• Dr Kerry Chant said even at 80 per cent vaccination rate some rules needed
• Said masks may be needed in venues that are a high risk for Covid transmission
• Said there could be a ban in high-risk venues on visitors who are unvaccinated 

By Charlie Coë For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 05:43 BST, 24 August 2021 | Updated: 08:16 BST, 24 August 2021

Australians could be forced to wear masks ‘for years’ even when the country hits its vaccination targets and starts to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Tuesday some level of restrictions would still be needed even when 80 per cent of the state’s population is vaccinated against the virus.  

Australia as a whole is forecast to reach that level at the start of 2022, but Dr Chant said even then residents may still have to wear masks in high-risk indoor settings.    

‘The Doherty Report modelling says that at 80 per cent you have options and choices – but that’s not to say you’re not going to have to respond with a level of restrictions,’ she said.

‘It may be that we actually have indoor mask-wearing for years in certain settings.

A masked woman checks in for a Covid-19 vaccination at the mass vaccination hub in Homebush in Sydney’s west on August 23.  Australians have been warned they could be forced to wear masks ‘for years’ even when the country hits its 80 per cent vaccination target

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Tuesday some level of restrictions would still be needed even when lockdowns are no longer necessary – such as mask-wearing in indoor settings

‘It could be you’re only permitted to go to certain high-risk venues if you’re vaccinated and can show proof of vaccination.’ 

The Doherty Report – which is guiding Australia’s route out of the pandemic – has said measures such as testing and self-isolation will still be needed even when a high percentage of the population are vaccinated.

Dr Chant added the emergence of a new Covid variant could push back how long it takes to return to normal life in Australia.

‘The world is grappling with how we co-exist with Covid-19 and the virus may throw us curve balls,’ she said.  

‘We’ve already got Delta – god help us if we have another variant.’

Pictured: A queue to be vaccinated at the NSW Health mass vaccination hub in Homebush on Monday. ‘It may be that we actually have indoor mask-wearing for years in certain settings,’ Dr Chant said

The Doherty Institute said on Monday night ‘generalised lockdowns’ would likely not be needed once Australia has vaccinated 70 and 80 per cent.

‘Once we reach 70% vaccine coverage, opening up at tens or hundreds of cases nationally per day is possible,’ the institute said in a statement on Twitter.

‘However, we will need vigilant public health interventions with higher case loads. 

‘As vaccination rates increase, we’ll be able to ease up further and it is unlikely that we will need generalised lockdowns.’

What are the four phases of opening up? 

A. Vaccinate, prepare and pilot (from July 14)

Arrival caps cut in half to 3,035 a week; early, stringent and short lockdowns if outbreaks occur; trials of seven-day home quarantine for vaccinated arrivals in South Australia; medicare vaccination certificates available on apps like apple wallet   

B. Post vaccination phase (when 70 per cent are jabbed, expected late this year)

Lockdowns less likely but possible; vaccinated people face reduced restrictions; caps for unvaccinated arrivals increased; a larger cap for vaccinated arrivals with ‘reduced quarantine requirements’; capped entry for students and economic visa holders  

C. Consolidation phase (when 80 per cent are jabbed, time not announced)

Only ‘highly targeted’ lockdowns; lifting all restrictions for outbound travel for vaccinated travellers; no caps for vaccinated arrivals; increased caps for students and visa holders; more travel bubbles being set up with countries such as Singapore; booster shots rolled out 

D. Final phase (percentage or time not announced)

Uncapped arrivals for vaccinated people without any quarantine and uncapped arrivals for unvaccinated people with testing before departure and on arrival 

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