SWSPHN answers this and other questions about COVID-19
SWSPHN has compiled a list of FAQs to assist community with questions about COVID-19, including symptoms, what being a close contact means and how to self-isolate.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms include fever, cough, sore/ scratchy throat, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell.
Should people with no symptoms get tested for COVID-19?
Testing of people with no symptoms (ie asymptomatic people) is not recommended routinely. In certain high-risk outbreak settings, the Public Health Unit may consider testing asymptomatic contacts to assist in managing the outbreak. This has occurred a number of times locally, including in response to The Crossroads Hotel cluster, with NSW Health urging anyone who was at the hotel on specific dates to be tested and isolate regardless of symptoms.
What is a close contact?
A close contact is someone who has been face-to-face for at least 15 minutes or has been in the same closed space for at least two hours as someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 when that person was infectious.
What should I do if I have close contact with someone who tests positive?
If you are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection, you need to be isolated for 14 days after you last saw that person. You will be notified of the relevant period for isolation by an authorised contact tracer. Home isolation applies to all close contacts, even if you are well.
What does home isolation mean?
Home isolation means you must stay home and restrict your normal activities. You cannot go to work, school, childcare, university, recreation facilities or public areas or go shopping. You should not allow people who do not have an essential need to be in your home to visit while you are in isolation.
You can leave your home to seek medical care or because of an emergency but you must wear a surgical mask.
What do I do if I test positive?
People who test positive to COVID-19 must isolate after being notified of the diagnosis. You must remain in your home until Public Health officers advise that it is safe to return to normal activities. If your condition deteriorates, you should seek medical attention.
What if I’m a close contact and I test negative? Do I still need to isolate for 14 days?
Yes, all close contacts must isolate for 14 days after you last saw the COVID-positive person regardless of testing negative. NSW Health or your local Public Health Unit work with close contacts and COVID positive people to advise on their individual circumstances.
Do I need to get retested for COVID-19 if I get symptoms again but my first test result was negative?
A negative test result only means that you did not have COVID-19 at the time of testing. However, that does not mean you will not get COVID-19. If you experience symptoms again, such as a fever, cough, sore/scratchy throat, change in taste or smell, stuffy nose or shortness of breath, get tested.
What does my family do if our child has had close contact with a COVID-positive person?
If your child has had close contact with a COVID-positive person, they should as much as possible:
- remain separated from others.
- wear a surgical mask when they are in the same room as another person.
- use a separate bathroom, if available.
- avoid shared or communal areas and wear a surgical mask when moving through these areas.
- not share a room with people who are at risk of severe disease, such as elderly people, immunocompromised people, and those who have heart, lung or kidney conditions and diabetes.
In circumstances where your child is not able to separate from other members of your family, the whole family should be isolated for 14 days.
When is my family allowed to resume our regular routine?
Following 14 days isolation, if your family remains well you do not require any tests before being released from isolation. If anyone in your family develops any symptoms during the isolation period they should get assessed and tested for COVID-19. If they test negative, they still need to remain in isolation until the original 14-day isolation period finishes.
How will my family cope if we need to self-isolate?
Being in home isolation can be frightening, particularly for young children.
NSW Health advise the following tips for coping:
- Talk about COVID-19 to reduce anxiety.
- Reassure young children using age-appropriate language.
- Keep up a normal daily routine as much as possible.
- Arrange with your employer to work from home, if possible.
- Ask your child’s school to supply lesson information and homework by email.
- Keep in touch with family members and friends via telephone, email or social media.
- Exercise regularly at home.
- Ask your family, friends or other members of the household to pick up your groceries and medicines for you.
How do I keep COVID-safe?
NSW Health advise the following for keeping COVID-safe:
- Avoid non-essential travel and gatherings. Of particular concern is transmission in venues such as hotels and restaurants, the gym and social gatherings.
- Anyone feeling unwell – even with the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat – must seek testing and self-isolate until they get the result. Stay at home, and do not go to work or catch public transport until you are cleared of COVID-19
- At all times stay 1.5 m from other people. Don’t go anywhere there is crowding.
- Clean your hands regularly with soap and running water for 20 seconds or use alcohol base hand rub.
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow.
- Don’t host, or go to, a gathering of more than 10 people at home.
- Don’t go to the gym unless the equipment is thoroughly cleaned before and after customer use by supervising staff or yourself, and there is good spacing between machines and customers.
- Consider using a mask in situations where you are unable to social distance.