THE Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) have joined the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) in reminding people are still required to wear facemasks in health facilities, along with other visitor restrictions.

Last month, the NSW Government released a staggered easing of COVID restrictions across the state.

Under the new relaxed rules, masks - which have become a staple during the pandemic - are no longer required in most indoor settings.

However, in the face of these new-found freedoms, President of the RACGP Dr Karen Price said it was easy to forget that the mask rules still apply in healthcare settings.

“Facemasks still need to be worn in healthcare settings including general practice because we have to maintain strict standards of infection prevention to protect the health of all our patients and staff – including those who are immunocompromised," Dr Price said.

“While we are celebrating case numbers declining in many states, it’s important to remember we are still living with COVID-19 in the community, and we will be for a long time.”

According to WNSWLHD, the mask rules also apply to facilities such as hospitals, specialists, COVID-19 vaccination clinics and other private health facilities.

"Restrictions are easing but some visitor restrictions are still in place," the WNSWLHD said in a statement.

"Restrictions include but are not limited to limits on the number of visitors at hospitals and Multi-Purpose Services, and all visitors will be screened on entry and must follow the advice of local health staff at all times."

Visitors will also be required to have had at least two doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine - unless medically exempted - have not tested positive to COVID in the last seven days, are not a high-risk contact, do not exhibit COVID symptoms and have not arrived from overseas in the past 7 days.

Visitors under the age of 12 must have had at least one dose of vaccine.

"Visitors are strongly encouraged to get a booster vaccine if they are eligible for one, and to have a negative Rapid Antigen Test prior to each visit," the WNSWLHD statement said.

In areas where there is a high risk of COVID-19 transmission, public hospitals also reserve the right to risk-assess visitation and implement further safety measures to ensure the safety of staff and patients.