Will Mask Wearing Stick Around Post-COVID? Share Published 13 hours ago: July 20, 2021 at 10:00 am Mask mandates are in place in Victoria and New South Wales as these states continue to see COVID cases in the community. And public health experts have argued face masks will continue to be an important measure in our fight against the virus for some time to come. However, masks won’t always be compulsory, particularly outside outbreak situations. In most Australian states and territories at present, masks are not mandatory but are recommended in certain settings, such as where physical distancing is difficult. But moving forward — as more people get vaccinated and outbreaks hopefully become fewer and smaller — is mask use likely to stick?