One of the biggest areas of confusion for people living in areas transitioning from alert level 3 to level 2 is where and when do they have to wear a face covering?

The widely-accepted medical wisdom is that wearing facemasks significantly reduces transmission of covid-19.

Basically, under level 2 rules, if you are in an enclosed space where you are likely to be around people you would not normally be around, you have to wear a mask.

Of course, there are exceptions to this, such as places where we eat, drink and exercise which makes wearing a mask impractical.

Those are the places where scanning is mandatory, because health authorities need to be able to find people via contact tracing if a local outbreak does occur.

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Mandatory facemasks while out and about

• Using public transport, planes (including in arrival and departure points such as train stations and bus stops) and in a taxi or ride-share vehicle.
• Visiting healthcare or aged care facilities.
• Inside retail businesses, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, shopping malls, indoor marketplaces, takeaway food stores, and public venues, such as museums and libraries.
• Visiting the public areas within courts and tribunals, local and central Government agencies, and social service providers with customer service counters.

Which workers legally have to wear a facemask?

• Workers in the public-facing area of a court, tribunal, local or central government agency or social service provider.
• A delivery driver to residential addresses – delivery drivers only need to wear a face covering when they are out of their vehicle.
• Workers at cafes, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, soup kitchens or any other food or drink business in a customer-facing role.
• Someone who works in a close contact service – for example, hairdressers or beauty therapists
• A retail store staff member– including those that were operating at Alert Levels 3 and 4.
• Workers at an indoor public facility – for example, a library or museum – employees working at a swimming pool do not need to wear a face covering.
• Drivers of taxis, ride-share vehicles, ferries, buses or trains used for public transport (this excludes school buses and ferries between the North Island and South Island).

Where are facemasks recommended but not mandatory?

In general, health authorities recommend if you are around people you do not know at any alert level, it is a good idea to wear a mask.

“The Delta variant is more transmissible by droplets, so face coverings are a way we can protect ourselves and each other,” the Ministry of Health says.

Who does not legally have to wear a mask in a public place?

Children under 12, students on school buses, teachers or students at schools or tertiary education facilities, a boat or ship that has no enclosed space for passengers, (for example, jet boat tours), people on charter or group tours or private flights. Also, drivers, pilots, staff or crew who are in a space completely separated from passengers do not have to wear a mask.

Are there exemptions?

People do not need to wear masks if they have a medical condition of disability that makes face covering unsuitable.

Other exceptions include: If wearing a mask is unsafe (for example, if wearing one means a driver cannot safely operate the vehicle in an emergency); you need to prove your identity; you need to communicate with a deaf person; you need to take medicine; you need to eat or drink; you are exercising or playing sports; or it is not required by law.

Dr Lucy Telfar-Barnard of University of Otago’s Department of Public Health, said it was important to remember wearing a facemask was as much about protecting other people, as it was about the wearer’s protection.

“You’re showing you care for the community when you wear a mask.”

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to wear a facemask when I’m walking down the street?

• No, but it’s recommended that you wear a face covering when you cannot maintain physical distance from others, including on crowded streets or other spaces

Do I have to wear a facemask in the office with my regular workmates?

• No, but it’s recommended. These circumstances are much easier to trace should an outbreak occur.

Can I wear a disposable medical mask more than once?

• It’s recommended disposable masks are used once and discarded.

Which is better, fabric or medical masks?

• Medical masks generally have better filtering, but may not fit as snugly. Double masking with both offers the best of both worlds.

Do students need to wear masks at school?

• No, because they are in an easily traceable group. Children under 12 are exempt and over-12s do not have to wear on the bus or at school, but they are recommended.

Do we need to wear a mask at the gym or playing sport?

• No, when exercising or playing sports, mask-wearing is not mandatory.

Do you have scan in when visiting retail premises?

• It’s not mandatory unless it’s a place such as a restaurant or bar where mask wearing is impractical.

Do people in customer-facing roles have to wear a mask?

• Yes, they do.

Do you need to wear a mask in a restaurant when you’re not eating?

• No, but you must scan in or register your visit.

Do tradespeople have to wear a face covering if they go into someone’s home to work?

• No, but it’s strongly recommended that you do. You must stay 2 metres apart from others and keep a record of your visit.