healthdirect launches guide for COVID-19 positive Australians

With more than a third of callers to the National Coronavirus Helpline asking about isolation, healthdirect has launched a guide (Opens in new tab) to help those who are COVID-19 positive know what they should do while isolating at home and when to seek medical help.

The at-a-glance guide is a gateway to a comprehensive information hub with hundreds of FAQs about managing and recovering from COVID-19.

“Everyone with COVID-19 will experience their situation differently in terms of what arrangements they need to make and the severity of their symptoms,” says Healthdirect Australia, Chief Medical Officer, Dr Nirvana Luckraj.

“We know people with mild symptoms can feel very sick. This website provides information on the range of symptoms to expect for ‘mild COVID’, so people with COVID-19 understand when it is appropriate to call on health services, such as triple zero (000).

“If you are worried about your symptoms, but it is not an emergency, use the COVID-19 Symptom Checker (Opens in new tab) on the healthdirect website or call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080 for free information and advice,” says Dr Luckraj.

Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) President Dr Karen Price said that the guide would prove useful for many COVID-19-positive people.

“It’s great to see healthdirect providing this timely information to help people with COVID-19 take care of themselves at home,” says Dr Price.

“Some people, particularly older people and those with serious underlying health conditions, will require careful monitoring by a GP and potentially need hospital care if their condition deteriorates.

However, many people will be able to safely manage their condition at home by following the information in this guide.

“With more and more people contracting the virus, especially in my home state of Victoria and NSW, this will help ease pressure on our healthcare system. So, I encourage people to share this resource with their friends and family and learn what they can do to take care of themselves if they test positive for COVID-19,” says Dr Price.

The COVID-19 Symptom Checker is an online tool that assesses a person’s symptoms and provides information and advice about the type of care needed based on the severity of their COVID-19 symptoms.

The National Coronavirus Helpline (1800 020 080) is available 24 hours a day to answer questions about isolation, restrictions, vaccines, testing and symptoms.

People who are COVID-19-positive can review the RACGP Managing COVID-19 at home (Opens in new tab) for useful tips for managing symptoms at home with support from your GP.

Initial steps if you have COVID-19

• Isolate immediately for at least 7 days
• Let your contacts — friends, family, work – know your situation
• Look after yourself — stay hydrated and take over the counter medications if needed
• Monitor your symptoms — know what to expect from mild COVID-19
• If you’re worried about your symptoms use the COVID-19 Symptom Checker
• If you are symptomatic on day 6, get tested before leaving isolation