What's the situation with the flagsticks at your club / course? At mine, we've been taking the flags out for the last 6-8 weeks without issue, then last Saturday we were informed we are no longer allowed to remove them. It's a Golf Australia directive to leave them in, or have them wiped down with disinfectant wipes supplied by the club after every use, but my club just says we can't remove them.
I'm in Victoria, which has had no active Covid cases in the community. Hare leaving the flag in with that stupid pool noodle. It shrinks the hole & deflects putts out of the hole.