A new rule requiring everyone in the state to wear a face mask outdoors has drawn mixed reactions from Wagga residents.
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From Monday, August 23, mask wearing will become mandatory when outside of your home, except when exercising.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the amended rule on Friday as the state recorded over 600 new cases of COVID-19.
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Wagga local Bernie Jones welcomes the new mask rule, saying that the community has to do everything it can to keep the regions safe.
"I think that health authorities and the government have really got our best interests at heart," she said.
"They're the ones with the knowledge, so we should be obeying them."
Mrs Jones said "we've been so lucky in Wagga" so far, urging everyone to keep doing the right thing.
"It's that two or three per cent that always do the wrong thing; the majority of us are doing the right thing," she added.
She also really feels for local businesses during this time.
"Walking down here I just feel so sad for the businesses, it's just so heartbreaking," Mrs Jones said.
Darren Thomas, who was out doing his grocery shopping on Friday, also said he is worried about the local economy during lockdown, but isn't totally sold on the new mask rules.
"No one's [caught COVID] in this whole town," he said, arguing that the main problem is people travelling from Sydney into the regions.
"No cases should be no go."
The new rule, requiring all NSW residents to wear a mask outdoors except when exercising, will apply until August 28 when the lockdown is scheduled to be lifted.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said that local police force's will be applying a "common sense approach" in terms of what counts as exercise.
He said a fine of $1000 may apply for those found breaking the rules, and that the change shouldn't be too different from current rules requiring people to carry a mask at all times.
"The mask in itself reminds people we're in a pandemic," Mr Barilaro said.
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