Face masks could remain mandatory in NSW after December 15

Face masks could remain mandatory in New South Wales even after the state reaches the 95 per cent fully vaccinated milestone.

Health officials are reportedly pushing for mask rules to stay in place beyond December 15, when they are supposed to be scrapped.

Currently, adults must cover their nose and mouth when shopping and in most public indoor venues, apart from offices and while eating or drinking.

The NSW government will discuss health advice to extend mask use to avoid a surge in COVID-19 cases over Christmas on Thursday, according to The Daily Telegraph.

A spokesperson for Premier Dominic Perrottet confirmed in a statement to the paper that there may be changes to the state’s reopening plan.

“Any potential changes to the road map will take into ­account the evolving nature of the pandemic and consider the relevant health, safety and economic advice,” they said.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Sanjaya Senanayake told Sunrise keeping mask rules in place would help reduce transmission.

“It is important to realise that while vaccination is a really important part of our COVID strategy, those other COVID-safe measures are important, too,” he said.

“These include masks when you’re indoors and can’t safely physically distance, using QR codes and getting tested if you think you’ve got COVID.”