WHAT'S HAPPENED?

* National cabinet on Friday endorsed advice from health authorities that face masks should be worn in certain circumstances, especially in Victoria's lockdown areas - metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.

WHY'S THAT?

* Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says studies they've seen in the last couple of weeks show that wearing face masks can reduce transmission of coronavirus by 60 per cent.

WHAT ARE THE DETAILS?

* If you live in a lockdown area and leave your home, and are unwell or cannot socially distance, then you should wear a mask. For example, if you are going to the shops and you know you won't keep 1.5m apart from other people.

* It applies to people aged 18 or older, given the lower transmission rate in younger people and the difficulty in getting children to wear masks properly. Likewise, the recommendation does not apply to schools or early childhood settings.

* Anyone living outside the lockdown areas should wear a mask if they enter those areas.

* The state government is ordering two million reusable masks and one million single-use masks.

* From the state government: "Face masks provide an added layer of protection, but the best ways to reduce the transmission of coronavirus remain the same - good hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette and keeping a physical distance of 1.5m."

WILL I BE FINED FOR NOT WEARING A MASK?

* No.

Australian Associated Press