A leading medical body says the mandatory wearing of face masks in regional communities isn't vital, at this stage of the pandemic, to protect against COVID-19.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners clarified its position after some regional doctors called on communities outside the cities to embrace face masks as part of the suite of personal defences to prevent contracting and spreading coronavirus.
"Routine mask wearing for everybody at this stage is not recommended for the numbers that we have in NSW," said the co-chair of the New South Wales-ACT branch, Ashlea Broomfield.
NSW Health has not recommended face masks be worn by the general population, but it recommends wearing a mask on public transport.
Based in Coffs Harbour on the state's mid-north coast, Dr Broomfield said there were a number of factors those living in regional areas of NSW needed to consider.
The biggest is the ability to keep at least 1.5 metres apart from others — especially indoors for extended periods of time.
"If you can't physically distance from someone then you can consider wearing a mask in that context," Dr Broomfield said.
She said the need to wear a face mask was reduced in regional areas because of low levels of COVID-19 circulating and the ability to physical distance.
But she warned the health advice about wearing masks could change for regional areas as we learn more about the spread of coronavirus.
Masks needed as COVID-19 'creeps up' coast: GP
Fellow mid-north coast doctor Trevor Cheney, from Bellingen, shares a different view.
Dr Cheney said the detection of community transmission in Sydney heightens the risk of infections creeping up into the coast.
"Before long, [COVID-19 community transmission] will exist here," he said.
"I'd rather people get used to wearing masks now rather than get caught out by an invisible foe that's just going to pop up in our community."
Dr Cheney said it was important to promote the importance of mask wearing and break down the stigma associated with wearing a face covering that had begun to emerge across the country.
One key starting point to alleviate tensions is to avoid going out when sick, Dr Broomfield says.
She said being out in public wearing a mask when unwell, even with mild symptoms like a runny nose and scratchy throat, could create negative and unhelpful connotations for all.
"Now is not the time to go: 'I can put on a mask and still go out'," Dr Broomfield said.
"The mask doesn't provide full protection if you're unwell."
She said washing your hands frequently, physical distancing, and getting tested for COVID-19 even with minimal symptoms were the crucial measures to protect regional areas from local COVID-19 outbreaks.
