Australia scrapped its airline mask mandates in September, but global health officials are encouraging passengers to reconsider as the latest Omicron subvariant spreads rapidly.
Countries are being told to recommend mask-wearing on long-haul flights by the World Health Organization.abc.net.au/news/australia-flights-mask-omicron-variant-xbb/101844976Countries have been urged to recommend masks on long-haul flights as the latest COVID-19 subvariant continues to spread rapidly in the United States, according to the World Health Organization .
Passengers should be advised to wear masks in high-risk settings such as long-haul flights, said the WHO's senior emergency officer for Europe, Catherine Smallwood. Health Minister Mark Butler said at the time: "[The mandate] has been removed on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer that it is no longer proportionate in the current context.
"Countries need to look at the evidence base for pre-departure testing," Ms Smallwood said, adding if action was considered, "travel measures should be implemented in a non-discriminatory manner".
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