As the world adapts to a new normal and we navigate our lives around COVID-19, countries across the globe are adding new measures in place to fight the spread of the virus, such as making it mandatory to wear face coverings when in public.
Across Hong Kong, France and parts of Australia, members of the public are now been ordered to wear masks when they are outside their homes, in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
At present, COVID-19 has infected roughly 14.5 million people worldwide and killed more than 605,000.
Currently, the United States has recorded almost 3.7 million infections and 140,00 deaths. Despite these rising figures, the country is still struggling to maintain a consistent response to the crisis. Most notably, President Donald Trump is still refusing to mandate mask-wearing in public, a move which continues to divide the country.
In contract, Officials in the Australian state of Victoria are now making face masks and coverings will be mandatory for roughly five million people in and around Melbourne from this week, with the threat of $140 fines for those who don’t follow these guidelines.
Similar responses can be found in France, where residents risk a fine of 135 euros if they don’t comply with new rules which require them to wear a mask when in public places indoors. In Hong Kong, leader Carrie Lam has ordered business closures and made face masks compulsory on public transport in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus.
