Tested positive?

If you test positive for COVID-19 it is important to look after your health and get help if needed. Find out more about simple steps to follow.

Look after your health

Most people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations who have COVID-19 will have mild to moderate symptoms and be able to recover at home.

 Your GP or The CARE@home team is available for advice and support for anyone who has COVID-19 or is caring for someone with COVID-19. Call the team at any time on 1800 973 363.

If your symptoms get seriously worse, especially if it happens very suddenly, or you feel like it’s an emergency, call triple zero (000) or go straight to hospital. Make sure you tell them you have COVID-19.

If you are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, it is important you seek antiviral treatment as soon as possible to ensure it is most effective in treating your illness. 

Contact your GP if you test positive to COVID-19. If you don’t have a regular GP, call the CARE@home care team on 1800 973 363.

See more about what to do if you are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

Reduce the risk to others

If you have COVID-19 or other respiratory viruses like the flu, you can infect others. Follow these simple behaviours to protect your family and friends.

You are most infectious:

• just before your symptoms start, and
• while you have acute symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, cough and fever).

To reduce the risk to others you should stay home until your symptoms have resolved.

Public Health recommends for at least seven days that you:

• avoid visiting high-risk settings including hospitals, residential aged care facilities or disability residential settings. 
• wear a face mask in indoor spaces, on Public Transport, and when visiting people who may be at risk of severe illness.
• avoid large gatherings and indoor crowded places.

Let people know if they have been exposed to COVID-19

People who live with or spend a lot of time indoors with someone are at greatest risk of catching COVID-19. 

It is recommended people take some simple steps to help reduce the risk to others if they have been exposed to COVID-19. 

See advice for people exposed to COVID-19.

Let your workplace know

Workers should tell their workplace if they test positive. 

All workplaces are required under Work Health and Safety legislation to complete a COVID-19 risk assessment and depending on the risk workplaces may have policies in place and request you to work from home or take additional precautions in the workplace.

Check your workplace policy or visit advice for workplaces for more information.

Workers in high risk settings (hospitals, aged care and disability facilities) or those providing in-home care aged or disability services may not be able to attend work for seven days after testing positive for COVID-19 and until a worker has no symptoms. This is to help protect other staff, patients, residents and clients.

What to do if you have symptoms

If you have any cold or flu-like symptoms you should stay at home until your symptoms mostly resolve. 

Stay at home and avoid contact with other people. If you have COVID-19, or cold or flu-like symptoms do not attend high-risk settings, including residential aged care facilities, hospitals (unless needing treatment), and disability residential settings.

When you have symptoms, it is important to maintain COVID Safe behaviours.

As with any illness, even if you’re feeling well or only slightly unwell, it’s important to monitor your symptoms and understand when you might need to get help.

It is very important to monitor symptoms when you or someone you care for gets COVID-19, particularly if you feel they are getting worse.

If you or someone you are caring for is experiencing mild symptoms, you/they are unlikely to need medical attention. You should monitor these symptoms and:

• rest
• drink plenty of water (aim to drink 2 to 2.5 litres a day)
• eat healthy food
• take medicines - as discussed with your doctor or pharmacist, or medicines that you usually already take.

Worsening symptoms

If you or the person you are caring for develops any of the following symptoms contact your usual GP or health care provider in the first instance, or if you or the person who is sick has tested positive to COVID-19 call the Care@home care team on 1800 973 363.

Adults (16 years of age and over)

• Mild shortness of breath, or coughing, when moving around
• Severe muscle aches and pains
• Little or no urination
• Severe vomiting or diarrhoea.

Children (15 years of age and under)

• Headache
• Vomiting, diarrhoea
• Poor or no appetite; reduced intake of food or fluids
• Mild breathing difficulties.

If you feel that the symptoms are getting worse, or that something is wrong and you are concerned call your GP or heath care provider or if the person who is sick has tested positive to COVID-19 contact the Care@home team.

Serious symptoms

Some symptoms are serious and should not be ignored. When severe symptoms occur in COVID-19 patients their health can deteriorate rapidly.

If symptoms worsen especially if they get worse quickly, or the following symptoms develop, go straight to hospital or call triple zero (000).

You must let the operator know you have COVID-19 so the paramedics know how to treat you safely.

Adults (16 years of age and over)

• Central or crushing chest pain
• Unconsciousness or a seizure (fit)
• Severe difficulty breathing, or turning blue
• Severe bleeding or inability to control bleeding with pressure
• Slurred or sudden inability to move or speak, or sudden facial drooping; or
• A severe accident.

Children (15 years of age and under)

• Working hard to breathe e.g., lots of effort with fast breathing or long pauses between breaths
• Very sleepy e.g., difficult to wake or confused
• Very dehydrated e.g., less wet nappies or going to the toilet less than usual, or extremely thirsty
• Severe chest or abdominal pain that does not go away after pain relief
• Persistent dizziness or headache
• Persistent fever that lasts more than five days, or a fever in a baby under 3 months old
• Pain or swelling in the legs.

Advice for ongoing symptoms

Fever or respiratory symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat or shortness of breath) that haven’t resolved or got much better could mean you are still infectious.

It’s important to stay home if you have symptoms, and if you must leave the house, wear a mask indoors and when on public transport while you have symptoms.

If you are not getting better, or you are concerned, contact your GP in the first instance, or phone the Care@home team on 1800 973 363.