Information for people who test positive for COVID-19

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19

If you test positive to COVID-19, you should stay at home until your symptoms are gone and take steps to protect others.

You should:

• Stay at home while you have COVID-19 symptoms
• If you’re at higher risk of severe illness follow your management plan, and contact your GP for a telehealth assessment early in your illness. See Managing your COVID-19 illness
• If you need to leave the house, you should:
  • wear a mask inside places that are not your own home, including on public transport
  • avoid attending large gatherings or crowded indoor places
  • avoid visiting people at higher risk of severe illness for at least 7 days
  • avoid high-risk settings, like hospitals, aged or disability care facilities. If you cannot delay visits to a high-risk setting, seek prior approval from the place and follow any COVID-19 policies or guidance they have in place. If you work in a high-risk setting, a longer period of staying away from your workplace may be recommended to protect other staff, patients, residents and visitors. Check what your workplace policy is for COVID-19 and talk to your employer about when you should return to the workplace.
• Maintain appropriate separation from others, particularly people in your household.
  • You are most likely to be infectious (i.e., able to share COVID-19 with others) in the 2 days before your symptoms started and while you have symptoms (such as fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough).
  • You should tell the people who live with you and those you've spent time with that you have COVID-19 so they can monitor for symptoms. They should follow the advice for people exposed to COVID-19 if they have been in the household with you during your infectious period.

Managing your COVID-19 illness

Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms that can be managed at home and will recover in a few days.

People who have a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 illness may be eligible for oral COVID-19 treatments. These people should contact their GP for a telehealth assessment early in illness. COVID-19 antiviral medicines work best if taken as soon as possible, and within 5 days from when your symptoms start.

Most people can manage their symptoms at home by resting and drinking plenty of fluids.

You can also use:

• pain relief
• heat/cold packs, or rehydration tablets, icy poles or sachets.

If you need additional support:

• contact your GP or regular medical practitioner for a telehealth appointment
• drop in to a Walk-in Centre where you can receive face-to-face assessment for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related medical concerns.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and existing clients can also visit Winnunga Nimmityjah Health Service.

How long it takes to recover from COVID-19 is different for everyone.

Your recovery may depend on many factors, including your age, your overall health, and how severe your COVID-19 symptoms were.

If you are concerned about severe or ongoing symptoms, please talk to your GP or regular health professional.

Seeking urgent medical attention

Call triple zero (000) straight away or present to your nearest Emergency Department if your symptoms are worsening and you are concerned, especially if you are experiencing:

• increasing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• chest pain
• dizziness or feeling like you might faint when standing
• problems tolerating oral fluids (for example not keeping down water or rehydration solutions).

Tell the phone operator you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19, have severe symptoms and need an ambulance

Attending medical appointments

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should book a telehealth appointment or contact your practice regarding face-to-face options.

If your medical appointment is at a high-risk setting, like a hospital, you should not enter that facility until 7 days after your positive COVID-19 test, unless you are:

• accessing urgent medical care, or
• have prior approval from the facility.

If you need to attend an appointment during this time, discuss this with the facility prior to your attendance.

You can attend hospitals for urgent care at any time.

Non urgent care may need to be rescheduled or provided through telehealth.

You should follow public health recommendations, like washing your hands, wear a mask if it is advised, and maintain physical distancing.

Mental health and wellbeing support

It is important to seek support if you are having strong feelings of worry, unease, fear and/or you are struggling to cope.

More information is also available on the mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 page.