Woolworths customers will be "strongly encouraged" to wear face coverings such as masks when visiting stores in NSW, ACT and parts of Queensland from Monday, August 3.
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The advice is for "customers, teams and visitors" across all Woolworths Group stores including Woolworths supermarkets, Woolworths Metro, BIG W, Dan Murphy's, BWS and ALH Hotels.
"The safety and wellbeing of our customers, teams and communities is our top priority," Woolworths Group CEO Brad Banducci said on announcing the face covering recommendation.
"Even though wearing a face covering is not mandatory in NSW, ACT or Queensland, as the largest private sector employer with stores in almost every community, we feel it's important we lead the way in helping reduce community transmission of COVID-19. We're asking our teams to lead by example, and this includes our group executive team.
"Masks and face coverings are a highly visible symbol of the persistence of COVID-19. By encouraging and role modelling their use, it will further support the steps we need to collectively take to stop the spread of the virus and keep our team and customers safe."
In Queensland, customers and teams across Woolworths Group stores and sites within hot spot areas are being strongly encouraged to wear face coverings from Friday, July 31.
This is in addition to the mandatory requirements for face coverings in all of Victoria, currently in place across Melbourne and Mitchell shires, with the entire state now included from Sunday.
Face coverings are being provided to all Woolworths Group team members to wear and will "continue to be for the foreseeable future".