COVID plan - Video test - Plan for COVID

Have you planned for COVID-19?

The 3 Ts of planning for COVID-19: What to do if you have symptoms

1. Test at the first sign of symptoms
2. Talk to your doctor without delay if positive
3. Treat without delay as advised by your doctor¹

COVID-19 IS HERE TO STAY

We not only need to live with COVID-19, but we need to actively plan for what we will do if we get it. Planning for COVID-19 means knowing exactly what to do if we develop COVID-19 symptoms. Prompt testing, talking to your doctor and discussing your options should be part of your COVID-19 Plan.

WHY YOU SHOULD TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

While most cases of COVID-19 will remain mild, some people will develop severe illness. As such, it is important to speak to your doctor without delay if you test positive for COVID-19, some people will progress to moderate or severe disease, especially if you have one or more of the risk factors listed below.¹

— STEP 1 —

TEST AT THE FIRST SIGN OF SYMPTOMS

The only way to know if you have COVID-19 is to do a test. There are two types of tests that can detect if you have the COVID-19 virus, a rapid antigen self-test (RAT) or polymerase chain reaction (PCR).²

You can buy RAT kits from pharmacies and retail outlets or access them for free if you hold an eligible Commonwealth concession card. If you have symptoms, are a close contact or have been advised to by a healthcare professional, you can have a PCR test at a COVID-19 testing clinic in your area.²

If you test positive, make sure you self-isolate as advised by the health authorities in your state or territory and follow all applicable instructions about reporting your status.

Home testing

— STEP 2 —

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR

If you test positive, phone your doctor to discuss your COVID-19 treatment options. Make sure you call without delay¹ if you are 50+ or have any of the other risk factors for severe COVID-19 listed below.

— STEP 3 —

TREAT AS DIRECTED

Always follow the advice of your healthcare professional. If your doctor prescribes medication for COVID-19, remember to take it exactly as directed.³

KNOW THE SYMPTOMS

It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between the symptoms of COVID-19 and symptoms of other illnesses, such as influenza or the common cold.⁴

Here are the symptoms of COVID-19 to look out for:⁵

Fever or chills

Cough

Shortness of breath or
difficulty breathing

Fatigue

Muscle or body aches

Headache

New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea

KNOW THE RISK FACTORS FOR SEVERE COVID-19⁷

≥50 years of age

Overweight

Cancer

Diabetes

Chronic kidney disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD)

Heart disease

Dementia or stroke

Certain population groups and those with certain medical conditions are at increased risk of developing severe COVID-19. Do any of the below risk factors apply to you or someone you care for?⁶

Being unvaccinated
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person
Living in remote area
Living with disability
Older age, especially if you are over 70 years old
Smoker
Being pregnant
Being male
Taking certain medicines, such as immune suppressive therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy

Previous bone marrow transplant
Blood cancer (such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myelodysplastic syndrome)
Non-haematological cancer (diagnosed in the past 5 years)
Childhood cancer
Chronic inflammatory condition requiring medical treatment
Primary or acquired immunodeficiency

Chronic renal (kidney) failure
Chronic lung disease
Heart disease (coronary heart disease or failure)
Diabetes
Chronic liver disease
Neurological conditions such as stroke or dementia
Severe mental health condition
Obesity
Poorly controlled blood pressure.

FAQs

How can I protect myself from COVID-19?

Keeping up to date with your vaccinations is an important way to help protect yourself from COVID-19.⁶ To be considered up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, you must have completed all the doses recommended for your age and health status.⁷
You can also protect yourself by wearing a mask indoors and in crowded settings. Mask guidance will depend on where you live, but you may choose to continue wearing one even if restrictions/mandates to wear them are removed. Maintain social distancing and wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.⁸

Is COVID-19 treatable?

Most people who become ill with COVID-19 will recover with bed rest.¹ While there is no cure for COVID-19, medicines have been developed that may be prescribed for certain patients.¹You can speak to your doctor about whether these are right for you.

How can I find out if I have COVID-19?

The only way to know if you have COVID-19 is to get tested. There are two types of tests:
rapid antigen self-test (RAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).²

Is it COVID-19, the flu or a cold?

It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between symptoms of COVID-19 and symptoms of other illnesses, such as the flu (influenza) or common cold. The only way to confirm whether you have COVID-19 is to get tested.⁴

If you test positive for COVID-19, you can do more than quarantine. Test at the first sign of symptoms and speak to your doctor without delay if you return a positive result.