‘Not a lot to ask’: Prime Minister Scott Morrison posts photo of himself wearing a surgical mask on afternoon trip to the shops

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has embraced the call for the public to wear masks, saying it was “not a lot to ask” as he shared a photo of himself wearing one in the car.

Mr Morrison posted the photo to Instagram this afternoon, following New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian’scall for people to wear masks in enclosed spaces.

The PM said he put the mask on before getting out for his afternoon shopping trip.

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“Had to pop out to pick up a few things here in Sydney, so followed the New South Wales Premier’s advice announced earlier today,” he wrote in the social media post.

“(The mask) protects others you come in contact with in enclosed areas, in particular the retail salespeople just doing their jobs.

“Not a lot to ask. All in this together.”

Ms Berejiklian stressed wearing masks was not mandatory in New South Wales but said it was a “strong recommendation” from the health department, “given where we are in the pandemic, given the risk posed from Victoria and given the rate of community transition in New South Wales”.

“Where you are in an enclosed space and you cannot guarantee social distancing, you should be wearing a mask,” she said.

“If you are a staff member ... if you are in an organisational enterprise which is customer facing, and you have a lot to do with customers, we would like to see you wearing a mask.”

It came as New South Wales recorded 12 new cases of COVID-19 overnight.

“We are holding the line and doing okay but I cannot stress enough that the next few weeks will make or break us, in terms of the way we get through this pandemic. That is why I urge everybody to take this advice and make sure that you are well equipped, well aware, well-informed to deal with the situation that is arising,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Meanwhile in Victoria, a state of disaster has been declared, with the State recording 671 new cases and seven deaths overnight and its capital city due to enter Stage 4 restrictions tonight.

It means people in Melbourne will not be able to leave their home after the 8pm curfew or travel further than 5km from their home.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the stringent restrictions would be in place for six weeks.