NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday urged people to consider masks when physical distancing could not be guaranteed.

People-facing employees including those in hospitality and retail, people on public transport and indoor spaces or grocery stores should wear masks, but it is not yet compulsory.

In Queanbeyan's Riverside Plaza not many staff and customers wore a mask on Monday.

Some retail workers said they hadn't been advised that they, or customers, required one.

Shoppers Karen and Justin Devenish said they would start wearing masks if they were made mandatory, or if there was a significant spike in cases in the region or the ACT.

Neither had worn a mask for their shopping trip but agreed with the government advice.

The couple run a hardware store in Queanbeyan and Ms Devenish said they stocked face masks but added they could be expensive and hard to source.

She was making a fabric mask in preparation.

Fellow shopper Lyn Gumm said she had several masks at home ready to use if stricter rules were introduced.

"If COVID was around here, I'd wear them now, but otherwise not," she said.

Although she also believed the government had made the right move in urging mask use, Ms Gumm said the situation in the Queanbeyan and ACT region was not as concerning as Sydney.

Hotel Queanbeyan publican Mathew Griffin said his staff members would be required to wear masks from later this week.

"And [we will] also put signs up outside and at all the points of service encouraging patrons to wear them as well," he said.

"If it's going to help ... I'm happy to do it."

Mr Griffin said masks would not be mandatory for patrons but would be encouraged, unless the NSW government imposed tighter rules.

"I'd prefer [the NSW government] make them compulsory for everyone ... for a period of time."

Several Queanbeyan cafes hadn't been informed of the latest government advice on masks, and staff members and customers had not been advised to wear them yet.

In Canberra, face masks are not yet required but the ACT's chief health officer is urging residents to prepare.