SYDNEY — Mask wearing on Monday became mandatory in some circumstances in Australia’s largest city due to the pandemic risk.
People risk a 200 Australian dollar ($154) fine in Sydney if they don’t wear masks in shopping malls, on public transport and IN various indoor areas.
New South Wales state Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant could not say how long the measure would be in place.
The state on Monday reported its first 24-hour period without a new COVID-19 infection BEING detected since Dec. 15.
A cluster that started in Sydney last month has spread to Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city where mask gas been mandatory since July.
Australian Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said three new cases had been detected in Melbourne during the latest 24-hour period, bringing the national total to 28,504 cases since the pandemic began.
Only 26 COVID-19 patients were in Australian hospitals on Monday and none was in an intensive care unit, Kelly said.