8 September 2022 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) health alert

8 September 2022 – Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) health alert

8 September 2022 – Monkeypox (MPX) health alert

The Infection Prevention and Control Expert Group has developed this guidance for community on face mask use in the context of COVID-19.

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This guidance was developed by ICEG and provides guidance for the community on the use of face masks and respirators in the context of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants.

ICEG has reviewed current evidence regarding the greater transmissibility of Omicron compared with earlier COVID-19 variants including Delta. ICEG considers that the same principles of protection that apply to COVID-19 and its other variants of concern continue to apply in the context of Omicron.

This Guidance has superseded the factsheets ‘ICEG statement on community use of masks in the context of Omicron’ and ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19) Are cloth face masks likely to provide protection against COVID-19?’.

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The Department of Health and Aged Care acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders both past and present.

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