Woolworths customers and staff have been “strongly encouraged” to wear face coverings in stores across NSW, ACT and some Queensland hotspots as coronavirus outbreaks across eastern Australia continue to pop up.
Queenslanders have been asked to follow the new guideline in all Woolworths stores within COVID-19 hotspot areas from Friday.
The request will apply to all stores in NSW and the ACT from Monday, the same day face coverings become.
The guidance also applies to Woolworths Group’s metro stores, Big W, Dan Murphy’s, BWS and ALH Hotels.
Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci said the company wanted to protect the “safety and wellbeing of our customers, teams and communities”.
A Woolworths store in Balmain, Sydney. Source: AAP
“Even though wearing a face covering is not mandatory in NSW, ACT or Queensland, as the largest private sector employer with stores in almost every community, we feel it's important we lead the way in helping reduce community transmission of COVID-19,” Mr Banducci said in a statement on Thursday.
“We’re asking our teams to lead by example, and this includes our Group Executive Team.”
The statement said face coverings would be provided to all staff "for the foreseeable future".
Australia recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic so far on Thursday, with 723 new infections in Victoria and 13 deaths.
Ten of the deaths were linked to aged care facilities, with some 913 cases linked to the sector.
Victorian health authorities also reported the death of a man in his 50s from the town of Portland later on Thursday. His death will be added to Friday’s toll.
More outbreaks have emerged in regional Victoria, prompting Premier Daniel Andrews to tighten restrictions.
From 11:59pm on Sunday, everyone in regional Victoria will need to wear a mask or face covering when out of their home, bringing the entire state in line with rules in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews addresses the media during a press conference in Melbourne Source: AAP
People in the local government areas of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Moorabool, Golden Plains, Colac-Otway and Queenscliff are also no longer able to have visitors to their homes.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for essential work, study, exercise or care responsibilities. It is also mandatory to wear masks in public.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
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