MASKS are yet to be required for Bendigo V/Line commuters, but a public transport user group believes opinion is solidifying in that direction.
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It comes after union calls to mandate mask wearing on public transport.
On Thursday, health officials encouraged Victorians to wear masks in situations where social distancing was impossible.
But the government is yet to put any rules in place.
The state's chief medical officer Brett Sutton said on Thursday that authorities were trying to use all the tools available to them in Victoria. He said face masks were not perfect at stopping the spread of infection, but an important measure.
Australia's deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth encouraged those in restricted areas to where masks where social distancing was impossible.
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union called last week for masks to be mandatory on Victorian public transport, including V/Line services.
Public Transport Users Association regional spokesperson Paul Westacott said the group would support mask wearing if health officials advised.
Mr Westacott said V/Line users were grateful that the government continued service at pre-pandemic levels, despite dropped patronage, allowing for physical distancing.
He said the group hoped government would increase services to allow for distancing if patronage grew.
The Australian Medical Association has advised Melbourne residents to use masks in situations where physical distancing cannot be guaranteed, such as public transport, shops and markets.
But president Tony Bartone said isolation, physical distancing, and regular hand washing were more effective at reducing disease transmission than masks.
Dr Bartone said where masks were appropriately used and correctly fitted they provided some level of protection in areas of sustained community transmission.
But he warned against complacency, saying masks were not a panacea.
"There must also be hand hygiene, cough etiquette, and compliance with public health orders," Dr Bartone said.
"Complacency with mask use can be more dangerous than not wearing them."
OTHER NEWS:
Dr Sutton advised Victorians to create their own masks, saying the government was working on communications material about how to wash and reuse masks.
The Department of Transport declined to comment specifically on masks to the Bendigo Advertiser on Tuesday.
But a spokesperson said it was vital for anyone unwell to not travel on public transport, as it put other passengers at risk of infection.
The spokesperson said public transport services had been running to a full timetable, to keep users as physically distant as possible.
They said the department was regularly cleaning high touch surfaces, deep-cleaning trains, trams and buses.
With AAP.
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