Mild COVID now more common, new resources help manage it at home

New resources for those managing mild COVID-19 symptoms are helping reduce pressure on Australia’s health system.

As milder symptoms of COVID-19 become more common among high vaccination rates in Australia, most COVID-19 positive patients will recover without requiring hospitalisation.

“While some COVID positive patients will require hospital care, there are now many who can monitor their symptoms at home,” Healthdirect Australia Chief Medical Officer, Dr Nirvana Luckraj said.

“However, I urge anyone with even the mildest of COVID-19 symptoms to still come forward and get tested, so we can identify cases in the community as quickly as possible and provide you with the best care for your circumstances,” Dr Luckraj said.

Healthdirect Australia provides tools with information and advice on when to seek medical assistance if a patient’s condition worsens.

The healthdirect website has an information hub that supports those with mild symptoms with extensive FAQs on how to manage their illness at home. This information is approved by Australian doctors.

The healthdirect COVID-19 Symptom Checker has been updated to take people through their symptoms and provide information about whether they need to seek medical help, or how they can isolate and recover at home. It integrates with the healthdirect Service Finder to connect people with nearby health services if needed.

To date, the COVID-19 Symptom Checker has been used 2.9 million times since it was launched in March 2020.

On 29 October 2021, the Federal Minister for Health announced additional funding to support the care of COVID-positive people in the community. This includes funding to Healthdirect Australia to ensure people who receive a positive COVID-19 laboratory test result are contacted as early as possible and connected to the right level of care and support. This service will also provide information and advice about symptoms and what to expect.

“It is fantastic to see such a strong uptake of people using healthdirect resources and services so that we can assist in taking pressure off Australia’s health system,” Dr Luckraj said.

“This symptom checker is available at our fingertips — either online or in the healthdirect app which has been downloaded by over a quarter of a million Australians.

“We have a responsibility to ensure our support services benefit Australia’s remarkable health system during the pandemic by helping reduce demand for in-person health services when possible,” Dr Luckraj said.

The COVID-19 Symptom Checker is an online tool which provides information and advice based on a person’s COVID-19 symptoms. The checker can advise on how to manage COVID-19 at home, or direct patients to the most appropriate entry point into the health system.

The tool was developed by Healthdirect Australia under strict clinical guidance from GPs and other medical specialists and is continually managed to ensure that the information is safe, accurate and compatible with local COVID medical guidelines and practices.