‘Just not the right time’: Victoria urged to keep mask rules for key workers

Masks remain mandatory in Victoria for hospitality and retail workers. Premier Daniel Andrews has rejected calls from business groups to drop the rule, as Covid case numbers climb. Photograph: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Victorian business leaders pushing to scrap mask mandates for hospitality and retail workers are “clearly not following the trend” in rising cases, according to epidemiologists who say now is not the time to relax rules.

The state’s premier, Daniel Andrews, on Thursday rejected a push from the Australian Hotels Association, the Australian ­Retailers Association and the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry who told the Herald Sun they wanted national consistency on mask mandates and warned workers could leave the sectors for other jobs.