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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Lucy Bladen

Frustrated Barr's plea to wear masks properly, not like 'a bit of a dork'

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has hit out at people wearing masks incorrectly, saying they looked like a dork.

Authorities have reported that compliance is lacking across some businesses with staff wearing masks incorrectly or not at all.

Mr Barr said police and inspectors from Access Canberra had conducted compliance checks over recent days, and while compliance was good, masks proved to be a problem.

"Some staff are not wearing masks - still. Or not wearing them properly. Having them under your chin is not wearing it properly. It is useless having it there. If you are at work, you have to have your mask on and have it on properly.

"I cannot understand how people don't seem to get the point of the mask, like it is just useless wearing it under your chin," Mr Barr said.

"It's just useless leaving your nose exposed, as well. When your mask is on it's got to cover your nose and your mouth, that's the whole point of it really.

"You sort of just look like a bit of a dork really going around with a mask under your chin, it's not the most fashionable of looks I would have thought."

It comes as the ACT recorded 18 new cases of COVID-19 up to 8pm Thursday.

Mr Barr also reiterated that people needed to check into their workplaces. He said this had proved to be a barrier in contact tracing.

People also needed to use the Check In CBR application when they used click and collect services at a store.

"I'd also like to remind Canberrans that when you are click and collecting, the collecting bit of the click and collect does require you to check in at that location when you go to collect your items," Mr Barr said.

Compliance checks earlier in the week found a breach of the public health direction at one-third of businesses.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has slammed people for wearing masks incorrectly. Picture: Karleen Minney
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