Australian State Extends Mask Mandate, Reduces Quarantine to 7 Days for Close Contacts

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk speaks during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia, on Dec. 13, 2021. Dan Peled/Getty Images

The Queensland government has extended its protective mask mandate to cinemas, theatres and for hospitality workers from 5 a.m. on Dec. 23.

This comes one day after it reduced the quarantine period by half for peopled deemed close contacts of COVID-19 cases.