Face masks now required
UPDATE: Tuesday 4th August 2020.
Metropolitan Stage 4 restrictions and Regional Victoria Stage 3 Return to Bowls Guidelines or now in effect.
Find out more about Metropolitan Stage 4 here.
Find out more about Regional Victoria Stage 3 here.
Bowls Victoria have received many enquiries around the use of masks when bowling. The advice from Sport & Recreation Victoria and Vicsport supports the current State Government guidelines, as follows:
From Sunday 2nd August, 2020:
- When leaving home for one of the four reasons, people 12 years and older must wear a face covering, unless an exemption applies.
- If you are doing strenuous physical exercise you do not need to wear a face covering but you must carry one with you. Strenuous exercise includes activities like jogging, running or cycling but not walking.
Bowling is not considered to be ‘strenuous physical exercise’ and therefore a face covering is required.
Lawful excuses or exceptions for not wearing a face covering
A face covering is not required in the following circumstances:
- Infants and children under the age of 12 years.
- A person who is affected by a relevant medical condition – including problems with their breathing, a serious skin condition on the face, a disability or a mental health condition. This also includes persons who are communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.
- Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to that person’s health and safety related to their work, as determined through OH&S guidelines.
- Persons whose professions require clear enunciation or visibility of their mouth. This includes teaching or live broadcasting.
- Professional sportspeople when training or competing.
- When the individual is doing any exercise or physical activity where they are out of breath or puffing; examples include jogging or running but not walking. You must have a face covering on you and wear it when you finish exercising.
- When directed by police to remove the face covering to ascertain identity.
- The person is travelling in a vehicle by themselves or with other members of their household.
- When consuming food, drink, medication or when smoking/vaping.
- When undergoing dental treatment or other medical care to the extent that the procedure requires that no face covering may be worn.
- When entering or inside a financial institution, like a bank.
- During emergencies.
You must carry a face covering with you when leaving home for one of the four reasons, even if you don’t need to wear it while undertaking your current activity, for example you can take your face covering off to eat. If you have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a face covering at all times you don’t need to carry it with you.
Information for areas outside of the above listed regions, as well as a full list of exemptions, can be found here.
