A mad rush to buy face masks is expected to continue across Victoria today, with millions told they will be required to cover up from Thursday.
Face coverings will be mandatory for all residents in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire coronavirus hotspots whenever they leave their homes.
Anyone who fails to wear a mask could be fined $200.
The rule will be enforced from 11.59pm on Wednesday night to allow people time to purchase masks, with five million people affected.
It doesn't have to be surgical facemasks with authorities saying scarves or anything to cover the face will be acceptable.
Residents are being urged to begin wearing them immediately wherever possible.
Victoria recorded 363 new COVID-19 cases since yesterday – a significant rise on yesterday's figure of 217, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed.
Three more elderly Victorians have died – two men in their 90s and a woman in her 90s.
Of the new cases, only 36 have so far been connected to known and controlled outbreaks.
Masks will be compulsory for all residents over the age of 12 years, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton clarified.
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"That is in recognition that it's likely to work for all of those age groups," Professor Sutton said.
"Below the age of 12, it's a consideration. We say not for toddlers - so not two years and below - but it's a consideration for all other children."
"But it is mandatory, really, from that high school age onwards."
The inside of supermarkets, service stations, workplaces and schools for senior students are all included in the mandatory mask requirement.
Despite that, teachers won't be forced to front a classroom with their faces covered and childcare workers will also be exempt.
Medical exemptions will also be applied to eligible people, while going for a run without any covering is allowed but exercises must carry a mask.
The coverings are also not recommended for children under two.
Professor Sutton said the desire not to have some primary school aged children required to wear masks while others were not was taken into consideration in determining the age cut off.
Police will be expected to enforce the measures, with patrols to ramp up in public places, transport, parks and workplaces.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the move could be the answer to Victoria avoiding entering Stage Four COVID-19 restrictions.
"If we can see high degrees of compliance, if we see people wearing masks then that will mean it is less likely that we will have to move to things like only having exercise in your own local postcode or things like saying you can only go shopping within a certain radius," he said.
Let us all please start wearing a mask, it has been subsidized by the government as well and a 50 PC BOX MASKS is easily available from $10, the reusable ones. Let us all play corporate social responsibility and fight together to reduce COVID 19 effects. Lets be one big FAMILY!
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