COVID-19 cases and contacts

The following advice is recommended for people who test positive to COVID-19:

Stay home and avoid contact with others

The COVID-19 infectious period can vary, but most people are considered infectious from 48 hours before their symptoms start until they are free of their acute COVID-19 symptoms, but can be infectious for up to 10 days.

COVID-19 cases should:

• stay home until their COVID-19 symptoms have substantially resolved (usually 5 to 7 days) to prevent spreading the illness to others
• avoid visiting people at high risk of severe disease from COVID-19, or high risk settings such as hospitals, residential aged care facilities, hospitals and other healthcare settings for at least 7 days after developing symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19 (unless urgent medical care or treatment is required)
• discuss with their employer about return to work and any additional requirements or precautions in accordance with local workplace policies, particularly if working in high risk settings
• wear a mask, undertake appropriate hand and respiratory hygiene, and avoid crowded areas for any necessary trips outside the home.

The WA Department of Health no longer requires registration of positive RAT results.

Protect others – tell your close contacts you have COVID-19

It is likely that you were in close contact with other people while you were infectious. You should advise those people that they are COVID-19 close contacts. 

Consider the following to reduce the risk of spreading infection to your household contacts, especially if they are at a greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19:

• stay and sleep in a separate room, if possible
• avoid contact with others while using shared bathroom and kitchen facilities
• avoid other common use areas, such as dining and lounge rooms, when other people are using them
• wear a mask in shared areas
• clean surfaces with detergent and disinfectant when you have finished using a shared area
• wash your used kitchen utensils in the dishwasher or clean thoroughly with hot soapy water
• handle your own laundry and use the hottest setting on the washing machine.

If you care for young children or other household members, it may not be possible to meet all considerations to minimise contact, but you should attempt what is practical and safe. For example, wear a mask and wash your hands regularly while caring for others in your household.

Take care to remain separate from any members of your household who are elderly, immunocompromised, or have medical conditions such as heart, lung or kidney problems. 

Recovery

Some people may continue to have mild or intermittent symptoms after their recovery from COVID-19.

If you experience new COVID-19 symptoms after your last COVID-19 infection, you may have been re-infected and should test again for COVID-19.

Resources

• COVID-19 Care Plan for adults (PDF 1MB)
• COVID-19 Care Plan for people with a disability (PDF 668KB)
• COVID-19 – Living with diabetes and other endocrine conditions (PDF 1.3MB)
• COVID-19 and breastfeeding (PDF 132KB)
• COVID-19 in pregnancy and birth (PDF 171KB)
• Dialysis and COVID-19: Risks and information (PDF 212KB)
• COVID-19 support: disability services (external site)
• COVID-19 resources for Aboriginal people

You are a COVID-19 close contact if you spent time with somebody who tested positive for COVID-19 while they were infectious under the following conditions:

• you live in the same household
• you are an intimate partner.

The infectious period for a person with COVID-19 is generally taken from 48 hours before their symptoms start or, if they have no symptoms, from 48 hours before a person has a positive test result.

If you work in a high-risk setting such as a hospital, residential care facility or other healthcare setting (e.g. GP or Aboriginal Medical Service), tell your employer when you become a close contact and check if there are any additional infection and prevention requirements for your workplace.

You no longer need to quarantine if you are a close contact, but you should:

• monitor for COVID-like symptoms and test for COVID-19 if symptoms develop
• consider testing regularly for COVID-19 with a rapid antigen test (RAT), even if you do not have symptoms
• stay at home until COVID-like symptoms have substantially resolved, even if negative on testing
• wear a mask when indoors and on public transport
• avoid large gatherings and crowded indoor places
• undertake appropriate hand and respiratory hygiene
• avoid visiting people at high risk of severe disease from COVID-19, or high-risk setting such as residential aged care facilities, hospitals and other healthcare settings, for at least 7 days after becoming a close contact (unless you require urgent medical care or treatment)
• discuss with your employer about return to work and any additional requirements or precautions in accordance with local workplace policies, particularly if working in high risk settings.

Most people with COVID-19 can look after themselves however, it is important to monitor your symptoms and know when to seek medical help.

If you are at greater risk of severe illness, you should contact your GP immediately, as antiviral treatments need to be started within 5 days of developing COVID-19 symptoms.

The healthdirect Symptom Checker (external site) can help you decide what to do next, or you can monitor your COVID-19 symptoms using the My COVID-19 symptoms diary (external site).

Mild symptoms (rest and recover at home)

Common symptoms include fever or chills, cough, sore throat, mild shortness of breath, runny or blocked nose, and loss of smell and/or taste. Other symptoms include headache, fatigue, muscle or joint pains, occasional vomiting or diarrhoea.

For mild symptoms:

• try to get plenty of rest, drink water, and eat well
• take pain-relieving medication (such as paracetamol) if required to help to reduce some symptoms
• call your healthcare provider (such as your GP) if you have other ongoing medical needs or concerns about your health.

Worsening symptoms (call your GP)

Contact your GP as soon as possible if you develop worsening symptoms such as shortness of breath when moving around or coughing, coughing up mucous regularly, severe muscle aches, feeling very weak and tired, or are passing little or no urine.

Other worsening symptoms include vomiting or diarrhoea, a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, and shakes or shivers.

Severe symptoms (call 000)

Call Triple Zero (000) immediately if you, or the person you are caring for experience any of the following (do not wait to see if the symptoms change):

• breathlessness at rest and/or you’re unable to speak in sentences
• pain or pressure in the chest
• coughing up blood
• severe headaches or dizziness
• confusion (e.g. can’t recall the day, time or people’s names)
• feeling faint or drowsy
• finding it difficult to keep eyes open
• passing no urine or a lot less urine than usual
• lips or face turning blue
• skin is cold, clammy, pale, mottled or turning blue
• loss of consciousness

When you call an ambulance (dial Triple Zero – 000), let the operator know you have COVID-19 so the paramedics know how to treat you safely.

Antiviral medication is available to some people at greater risk of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19. This medication must be commenced within the first 5 days of symptoms starting.

Medication will not be prescribed until you test positive to COVID-19. However, if you are at higher risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19 you are encouraged to speak with your doctor in advance about whether an oral antiviral suits your health needs and to discuss the risks and benefits of using the treatment. It is also useful to develop a plan with your doctor about how you will obtain these medications if you test positive to COVID-19.

Medications have benefits but can carry some risk of side-effects. Take the medication as instructed by the doctor and do not share prescription medications with friends or family.

Eligibility for antiviral medications

Your GP or specialist can determine if you are eligible for oral antiviral medications.

You may be eligible for the oral antiviral medications if you are:

• 18 years or older and moderately to severely immunocompromised
• an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 30 years of age or older and with one or more addional risk factors for severe disease
• 50 years or older with 2 or more additional risk factors for severe disease
• 70 years or older.

Risk factors include:

• living in residential aged care
• living with disability with multiple conditions and/or frailty
• neurological conditions like stroke or dementia and demyelinating conditions (e.g. multiple sclerosis)
• chronic respiratory conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or moderate or severe asthma
• obesity or diabetes (type I or II requiring medication)
• heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies
• kidney failure or cirrhosis
• living remotely with reduced access to higher level healthcare
• past COVID-19 infection episode resulting in hospitalisation.

Suitability will also depend on factors such as other medications you take and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Visit the Australian Department of Health website (external site) for more information about eligibility for oral COVID-19 treatments.

Watch The Brief: Antivirals Eligibility (external site) to learn more about antiviral medications. 

Accessing oral antiviral medications

Antiviral medications can be prescribed by your GP or specialist. They should be started within 5 days of developing COVID-19 symptoms.

If you have COVID-19, it is best to consult a GP or specialist who knows your health conditions. You can request a telehealth consultation over the phone.

Your doctor can send an electronic script to a pharmacy. The medication may need to be delivered to you by the pharmacy or picked up by someone on your behalf, if you are recovering at home.

Antiviral medications are listed under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for Australian residents who hold a current Medicarecare card.

The Australian Department of Health (external site) has more information about oral treatments for COVID-19.

COVID-19 oral antiviral medication information sheets

• COVID-19 medicines information for consumers (external site)
• Nirmatrelvir plus Ritonavir (Paxlovid®) Patient Information (external site)
• Molnupiravir (Lagevrio®) Patient information (external site).

Most children will have mild or no symptoms, but they can still transmit the virus to other people. Children with obesity, chronic heart, lung or neurological problems may become more unwell from COVID-19.

If your child has COVID-19 and is uncomfortable, you may treat their symptoms as you would with any cold or flu. This might include:

• encouraging fluids and rest
• feeding infants small amounts, more frequently
• administering paracetamol and/or ibuprofen
• administering saline drops for a blocked nose.

Fever (external site) is commonly experienced by children with viral illnesses. If your child is comfortable, their fever does not need treatment. If they appear irritable or uncomfortable, paracetamol and/or ibuprofen can be used.

Ibuprofen is best taken with food and no more than three times a day.

Paracetamol can be taken on an empty stomach up to four times a day.

You can use paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time or alternate between the two to allow more frequent dosing, if needed.

When to see a doctor

You should contact your child’s doctor if you are worried about your child, or if your child is:

• working hard to breathe, is breathing quickly, or has long pauses between breaths
• very sleepy, difficult to wake, or confused
• showing signs of dehydration (external site)
• experiencing severe chest or abdominal pain, or has pain that doesn’t go away after pain relief medication
• experiencing persistent dizziness or headache
• experiencing persistent fever lasting more than 5 days, or is under 3 months of age with a fever
• experiencing pain or swelling in the legs.

Some general practices and clinics do not allow people with COVID-19 or COVID-like symptoms to attend their premises. When you contact the clinic or practice, tell them your child has COVID-19 or COVID-like symptoms so they can determine whether a telehealth appointment should be arranged.

If your child is scheduled for a health check appointment while they have COVID-19, you may be able to reschedule or arrange a telehealth appointment.  

Resources

• Telethon Kids Institute COVID-19 Resource Hub (external site)

• COVID-19 Care plan for parents or carers and children (PDF 1MB)

Immunity against the virus that causes COVID-19 decreases over time after infection or vaccination. A reinfection is when a person becomes infected with COVID-19, and later becomes infected again. The likelihood depends on factors such as whether your immune response is compromised (e.g. by medications for other conditions), your vaccination history, degree of exposure to virus in the community and how much that virus differs from the strain that caused the previous infection. 

If you experience new COVID-like symptoms after your last COVID-19 infection, you may have been re-infected and should test again. Follow advice for COVID-19 cases if you test positive. You should stay at home if you have COVID-like symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough or fever.

Long COVID is a condition where some people experience persistent symptoms, 3 months after getting COVID-19.

Most long COVID symptoms disappear within 6-12 months, but in some cases, it can take longer.  Research continues to better understand long COVID, how it develops, people at risk, prevention and treatment options.