Based on just 4 alleged coronavirus cases here in Brisbane, the city has been locked down - schools closed, businesses shut, people told to stay at home, and masks mandated for the WHOLE STATE!
It is utterly ridiculous to make the whole state of 5 million people over 1.8 million square kilometres and stretching 7000km from the southern border to the top, to wear a mask based on 4 cases! There is NO science to justify this, and plenty of quality studies showing wearing of masks does nothing to stop the spread of respiratory infections or even COVID.
A reminder that despite the mask mandate, it is still dangerous for some people to wear a mask, and hence some people cannot wear a mask. So if you see someone without a mask, please don't launch into a tirade of abuse, but respect their reasons that you know NOTHING about. Leave them be.
In any case, if you are wearing a mask and someone else isn't, you are protected right?! It's nothing to do with you why they aren't wearing one. People are not going to deliberately not wear a mask, knowing the abuse that some people may likely give them.
There are some people exempted from wearing a mask:
1) Children 12 years or younger
2) Those with medically exempt conditions - often respiratory conditions, facial or skin conditions, but also mental health conditions, disabilities (ie deafness or need to communicate with someone with a disability), or many other conditions.
You also do not need proof for not wearing a mask. Some GPs can write a medical certificate letter for this exemption, but it is not needed, according to the Qld Health website.
Police or security or other staff may ask why you aren't wearing a mask, so just say "I have a valid medical exemption for not wearing one, thank you.". They may push their luck and ask for what your exemption is or for proof of the exemption. If you have a medical certificate for exemption, then show them. Even though proof of this is not required (again, according to the Qld Health website) showing proof can diffuse the situation more quickly. However police or security or other staff cannot ask you what your health issue is - that is private between you and your doctors. It is a medical privacy issue, and the reason why medical records are kept under tight security with access only to those who are legally allowed to see them. If asked, just say "I am under no legal obligation to tell you of my medical issues, which is covered by the Commonwealth Privacy Act of 1988".
If you are denied access to shops or services for not wearing a mask or any "No mask, no entry" signs, as there are many people who are misinformed on this issue, ask to speak to their manager. Remind them that refusing access to someone with a health issue and who has a legally valid exemption is breaking the law (Disability Discrimination Act of 1992) and substantial fines and penalties can apply to the person preventing access and to the business or organisation.
If you still get denied access to businesses or organisations or if you feel you are discriminated against for not wearing a mask, report them to the Human Rights Advocates who will contact the business and get them to change their policies based on law: www.humanrightsadvocates.com.au
For more information and links to the Qld Health website on the exemptions, or the other laws mentioned here, please refer to the attached document, or print this and take with you:
drive.google.com/file/d/1SsQeWm8Q0ZREdEGFP8BIRzR1i3hGCYVT/view?fbclid=IwAR0DgFK55vc_XoW-spiyams9TSXdRHssXhVkHfekSopJwKmM3ni_jW6gM6c
It is utterly ridiculous to make the whole state of 5 million people over 1.8 million square kilometres and stretching 7000km from the southern border to the top, to wear a mask based on 4 cases! There is NO science to justify this, and plenty of quality studies showing wearing of masks does nothing to stop the spread of respiratory infections or even COVID.
A reminder that despite the mask mandate, it is still dangerous for some people to wear a mask, and hence some people cannot wear a mask. So if you see someone without a mask, please don't launch into a tirade of abuse, but respect their reasons that you know NOTHING about. Leave them be.
In any case, if you are wearing a mask and someone else isn't, you are protected right?! It's nothing to do with you why they aren't wearing one. People are not going to deliberately not wear a mask, knowing the abuse that some people may likely give them.
There are some people exempted from wearing a mask:
1) Children 12 years or younger
2) Those with medically exempt conditions - often respiratory conditions, facial or skin conditions, but also mental health conditions, disabilities (ie deafness or need to communicate with someone with a disability), or many other conditions.
You also do not need proof for not wearing a mask. Some GPs can write a medical certificate letter for this exemption, but it is not needed, according to the Qld Health website.
Police or security or other staff may ask why you aren't wearing a mask, so just say "I have a valid medical exemption for not wearing one, thank you.". They may push their luck and ask for what your exemption is or for proof of the exemption. If you have a medical certificate for exemption, then show them. Even though proof of this is not required (again, according to the Qld Health website) showing proof can diffuse the situation more quickly. However police or security or other staff cannot ask you what your health issue is - that is private between you and your doctors. It is a medical privacy issue, and the reason why medical records are kept under tight security with access only to those who are legally allowed to see them. If asked, just say "I am under no legal obligation to tell you of my medical issues, which is covered by the Commonwealth Privacy Act of 1988".
If you are denied access to shops or services for not wearing a mask or any "No mask, no entry" signs, as there are many people who are misinformed on this issue, ask to speak to their manager. Remind them that refusing access to someone with a health issue and who has a legally valid exemption is breaking the law (Disability Discrimination Act of 1992) and substantial fines and penalties can apply to the person preventing access and to the business or organisation.
If you still get denied access to businesses or organisations or if you feel you are discriminated against for not wearing a mask, report them to the Human Rights Advocates who will contact the business and get them to change their policies based on law: www.humanrightsadvocates.com.au
For more information and links to the Qld Health website on the exemptions, or the other laws mentioned here, please refer to the attached document, or print this and take with you:
drive.google.com/file/d/1SsQeWm8Q0ZREdEGFP8BIRzR1i3hGCYVT/view?fbclid=IwAR0DgFK55vc_XoW-spiyams9TSXdRHssXhVkHfekSopJwKmM3ni_jW6gM6c
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