FAQs

The COVID-19 virus spreads via small liquid particles from an infected person when they cough, sneeze, speak or breathe. Evidence suggests it spreads between people who are in close contact, which is why social distancing is important. The virus can also be spread in crowded indoor spaces and poorly ventilated spaces and via surfaces that have been touched and contaminated with liquid particles from an infected person. If you touch an infected surface and then touch your eyes, mouth or nose you can contract the virus, that’s why cleaning regularly touched surfaces and maintaining good hand hygiene is really important.

There are steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. These include:

• Getting vaccinated
• Practicing social distancing
• Wearing a mask
• Practicing good hand hygiene
• Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or tissue and sanitise or wash your hands after
• Avoid frequently touched surfaces when in public.

There are a range of factors that can make you more ‘vulnerable’ to serious illness if you contract COVID-19. This includes age (particularly those over 70 years), those with a pre-existing health condition, people who are immunocompromised, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and pregnant women. If you are at increased risk of serious illness, speak to your healthcare team about developing an action plan to keep yourself safe and so you know what to do if you do contract the virus.

While most people will recover completely within a few weeks after contracting COVID-19, some people will continue to experience symptoms. This is called ‘long COVID’ which can last for weeks and months. Symptoms of long COVID can include tiredness, difficulty breathing, a persistent cough, fever, headaches and chest pain. Many long-term effects from COVID-19 are still unknown, that’s why it’s important to do everything you can to protect yourself. If you’ve had COVID-19 and are experiencing persistent symptoms weeks or months after the initial infection, speak to your GP. Read more about recovering from COVID-19 and managing ongoing symptoms.

Antiviral treatment for COVID-19 is available on the PBS for people at higher risk of severe illness. These treatments can be prescribed by a GP and should be commenced within 5 days of symptoms starting for treatment to be effective.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for antiviral treatment if you are:

• 70 years of age or older
• 50-69 years of age and with one additional risk factor
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, 30 years or older and with one additional risk factor
• An adult who is moderately to severely immunocompromised
• An adult who has experienced a past COVID-19 infection resulting in hospitalisation

Additional risk factors include living in residential aged care, pre-existing health conditions such as chronic respiratory conditions, or living remotely with reduced access to higher level healthcare. For a full list of risk factors, visit the Department of Health website. Check your eligibility for antivirals here.

If you are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, it can help to have a conversation with your GP before contracting COVID-19 about your individual circumstances. Together, you can develop a plan to ensure you can access antiviral treatment quickly if you need it.

The COVID-19 vaccines are the most effective way to protect yourself and others, reduce the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19, slow the spread of the virus and protect those who can’t be vaccinated due to medical reasons. All Australians aged 5 years and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Boosters are available to anyone who received their second dose of the vaccine at least 4 months ago. Further boosters are available, and, if eligible, should be received if your last COVID-19 vaccination or confirmed infection was 6 months ago or longer (regardless of the number of boosters received to date). For more information, visit the Department of Health website.

It’s important to talk to your healthcare team about getting vaccinated, particularly ahead of winter, so they can provide advice based on your personal circumstances and medical history. Read more about the vaccination program, including how and where you can make a booking, here.

Like many vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccine trains your immune system to recognise a virus as dangerous and fight it – in this case the one that causes COVID-19. The vaccine works in the same way that other vaccines you may already receive do, such as influenza and pneumococcal pneumonia. There are several COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Australia. Some contain either inactive or weakened versions of the virus that causes the infection, while others teach our bodies how to make a protein that triggers an immune response in our bodies. However, they are all designed to allow your body to develop a supply of defensive white blood cells that will remember how to fight the virus. This process can take a few weeks, so it is still possible to become unwell if you are infected by the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after receiving the vaccine. Read more about the current approved COVID-19 vaccines via the Department of Health website.

Children between the ages of 6 months and under 5: Children between the ages of 6 months and under 5 in certain at-risk population groups are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. This includes children with structural airway anomalies or chronic lung disease. For more information, visit the Department of Healthwebsite.

Children over the age of 5: All Australians over the age of 5 can be vaccinated against COVID-19. This is particularly important for household contacts of healthcare workers, quarantine and border workers and other at-risk occupational groups, along with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and those with underlying medical conditions. Talk to your GP if you have any specific questions or concerns about vaccinating your child.

COVID-19 vaccines offer significant protection against severe COVID-19 infection. It can be difficult trying to keep up with the latest advice on when to get a vaccine and who is eligible. To assist, the latest recommendations on booster doses are summarised below (as per Department of Health and Aged Care, 2024):

Recommendations by Age Group

75 years and older

• Recommended every 6 months.

65-74 years

• Recommended every 12 months. Can consider every 6 months.

18-64 years

• With severe immunocompromise: Recommended every 12 months. Can consider every 6 months.
• Without severe immunocompromise: Consider every 12 months.

5-17 years

• With severe immunocompromise: Consider every 12 months.
• Without severe immunocompromise: Not recommended.

Under 5 years

• Not recommended.

Other Key Information

• COVID-19 vaccines remain funded for all eligible individuals, including those without a Medicare card.
• COVID-19 vaccines can be co-administered (given on the same day) with any other vaccine for people aged 5 years and over.

Individuals are encouraged to discuss their COVID-19 vaccinations with their health practitioner. For more information, visit the Department of Health website here.

Viruses such as COVID-19, influenza and RSV can trigger exacerbations in existing conditions. You may choose to limit outings and prefer not to have visitors in your home when you know there are more cases of these viruses in the community. Talk to your loved ones about what they can do to make you feel as safe and comfortable as possible. If people need to visit your home, ask them to wash their hands thoroughly on arriving, wear a mask, maintain physical distance from you and avoid touching anything unnecessarily.

We’ve developed a poster that you can hang on your front door as a reminder to anyone who might be entering your home. Download now. 

It’s important that you maintain your usual healthcare to manage your lung condition during this time. If you’re unable to attend a face-to-face appointment you should discuss with your GP or specialist having your appointments via telephone or video call.

If you need to attend a health facility for a scan or to access treatment, you should discuss the best option with your treating healthcare team.

Read more about managing your condition during this time, here.

In some parts of Australia people can access home delivery services for medication and treatment. Please check with your pharmacist if they issue e-scripts and have a home delivery service.

There are things you can do to reduce the risk of bringing the COVID-19 virus into your home. These include washing your hands thoroughly when arriving, reducing visitors to your home and ensuring you clean any items before bringing them into your home. It’s also important to regularly clean frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs and countertops. For more information about reducing the spread in your home, visit our ‘Preventing the spread’ information, here.

If someone in your household tests positive to COVID-19, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of the virus spreading to other household members. HealthDirect has great information and resources on preparing your home, how to isolate, support services and caring for others.

Living with or caring for someone who is at increased risk can heighten feelings of  fear and anxiety. Taking extra care to maintain COVID-safe practices, such as good hygiene, can help reduce the risk of infection within the home. Being prepared for someone in your household to test positive is going to help you to feel more comfortable and confident if it happens. Develop an action plan together that includes how the person who is positive will isolate within the home, who in your support network (such a family or neighbours) can check in and drop off supplies, what supplies you can ensure you have on-hand and some activities to keep you occupied if you need to isolate.

If possible, you should opt to use different bathrooms, sleep in different bedrooms and avoid using common areas at the same time. Ensuring you thoroughly clean regularly used surfaces and items will help to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

Government recommendations and processes around testing are evolving as the situation in Australia changes – these also vary state-by-state. You should be tested for COVID-19 if you:

• Have COVID-19 symptoms
• Are a close contact of someone who has tested positive
• Have been advised by a health professional.

There are two types of tests that can detect COVID-19. A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

As of 1 January 2023, to obtain a Medicare-funded PCR test you will require a referral from a health practitioner. This means that only people who are at risk of severe COVID-19 who would benefit from antiviral treatments will be eligible to receive a PCR test.

If you are at risk of severe COVID-19, you should talk to your GP about your eligibility for antiviral treatments and create a plan to ensure fast access to treatment should you become infected with COVID-19.

Alternatively, RATs can be used at home to self-test for the COVID-19 virus. These tests are can be purchased from participating pharmacies, supermarkets and other retail outlets. In some instances, you may be able to access free RAT tests (e.g. if you have a concession card), please check with your treating team to find out more about this. Read more about testing for COVID-19, here.

The Therapeutic Goods Association is reviewing all RATs included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. Check whether your RAT has been independently tested and found to be effective, here.

While isolation is no longer a legal requirement for anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, we strongly suggest that people isolate when they are sick for all viruses, including COVID-19. Staying at home protects the people around you and the broader community from becoming infected.

If your symptoms are mild, you can look after yourself at home with rest, hydration and over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and paracetamol. You should monitor your symptoms using the Healthdirect symptom checker to know if you should seek medical help if they worsen.

The Australian Government has worked with Healthdirect (1800 022 222) to develop a national assessment, triage and notification infrastructure. This will connect people who test positive with the appropriate level of care and advice based on guidelines developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

This service – which already provides the National Coronavirus Hotline, symptom checker and a range of online resources – will be the point of contact for anyone with a positive COVID-19 result to receive assessment, information on what to do and can connect you to appropriate care. If your symptoms worsen you should seek medical attention.

If you tested positive at a testing facility your result will be recorded. If you took a Rapid Antigen Test and returned a positive result, you need to let health authorities know through the process outlined by your local government.

Most people will experience mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. If you develop severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, pain or pressure in your chest, cold and clammy skin, fainting or collapsing, or coughing up blood, you should seek urgent medical attention. Use the HealthDirect symptom checker if you’re unsure when to seek medical attention.

If you have mild COVID-19 symptoms, you can manage these at home with rest, hydration and over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen.

There are a number of treatment options for COVID-19 that have been provisionally approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The TGA is also currently evaluating a range of other treatment options. Read more via the Department of Health website, here.

While isolation is no longer a legal requirement for anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, we strongly suggest that people isolate when they are sick for all viruses, including COVID-19. Staying at home protects the people around you and the broader community from becoming infected.

If you need essential supplies and have no alternative option to be able to access them, use precautionary measures such as wearing a mask, practicing good hand hygiene, maintain physical distance from others and avoid touching anything unnecessarily.

Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 must not visit high-risk settings like aged and disability care facilities and hospitals, unless seeking immediate medical care, until at least 7 days after testing positive and you have no symptoms of COVID-19.

While isolation is no longer a legal requirement for anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, we strongly suggest that people isolate when they are sick for all viruses, including COVID-19. Staying at home protects the people around you and the broader community from becoming infected.

Check in with your employer around whether they have a policy on when to return work after testing positive to COVID-19. This may include the ability to work from home (where possible).

If you do have to return to work you may wish to take additional cautions such as maintaining social distance, wearing a mask, good hand hygiene and thorough cleaning of regularly touched objects and surfaces.

It’s important to discuss and create an action plan that covers what to do if a carer contracts COVID-19. Ensure that the relevant members of the person’s healthcare team, family members, friends and neighbours are involved in the planning process so they can help to provide support should you need it.

If you contract COVID-19 and live with someone that you care for, you can remain in the same house but should stay separated from them where possible, such as using a separate bedroom and bathroom. Maintaining social distance, wearing masks, good hand hygiene and thorough cleaning of regularly touched objects and surfaces can help to stop the spread of the virus in your home.

If you care for someone who you don’t live with, and they are able to be cared for by someone else, ideally avoid contact for your infectious period (approximately 7 days). If this is not possible, then you may wish to take additional cautions such as maintaining social distance, mask wearing, good hand hygiene and thorough cleaning of regularly touched objects and surfaces can help to stop the spread of the virus.

Most people who contract COVID-19 will experience symptoms for a short time and will recover within a few weeks. These can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Tiredness
• Loss of taste
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Aches and pains

If you experience serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, loss of speech or mobility, or chest pain, seek immediate medical attention.

It’s important to allow your body time to rest and recover in the weeks after you contract COVID-19. Even people who are otherwise fit and healthy can experience fatigue and exhaustion after becoming infected. When resuming exercise, you should start slow with low or light intensity. If you have a pre-existing condition, like a lung disease, you should consult your healthcare team before starting or resuming exercise.

Most people who contract COVID-19 will experience symptoms for a short time and will recover within a few weeks. For some people, it may take weeks or months to recover. If your symptoms persist, speak to your GP.

We understand experiencing ongoing symptoms can be frightening. Our online COVID-19 Survivor and Support Group aims to connect people from right across the country to share their experiences to ensure no one feels alone on this journey. To find out more about the group, submit an expression of interest and our team will be in touch.