Putting aside the fatuous objections of the conspiracy theorists, there are limitations to what masks can do to halt transmission and there are certainly people who for health reasons cannot wear them, but there is one indisputable impact.

Everywhere we go in public we see in every masked face the sign that this pandemic is serious.

Some might even argue the hassle and discomfort discourages people from going out, thus potentially achieving another short term end to halt the spread of coronavirus.

While Ballarat's case numbers are still low, on a week of so many Victorian deaths, including the first in western Victoria, to call this serious is an understatement.

In the face of this gravity, when so many businesses and individuals are doing so much to stay safe and Melbourne is looking down the barrel of stage four lockdown, this is the least we can do to show our solidarity.