Being diagnosed with COVID-19 can be a distressing and scary experience.
So far, it has happened to more than 6,000 people in Australia.
And whilst it is accepted the country is lowering its rate of the rise in infections, it is likely many more people will be infected before the pandemic subsides.
That makes it very important that those who are diagnosed with the virus know what to do.
What should you do if you contract the virus?
Dr Chris Moy is a general practitioner and the president of the South Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association.
He says the first thing anyone who tests positive for coronavirus should do is stay at home. Anyone living with them will have to take action too.
“Obviously, the first thing is that they need to stay at home because they don't want to be spreading it around,” he told SBS News.
“And they should stay away from everybody else in the house. Those individuals in the house will then become proven contacts, and they will need to self-isolate as well."
What about the people you may have infected?
The process of finding proven contacts is known as contact tracing.
Dr Moy says those who are traced as contacts of a COVID-19 case will have varying courses of action they may need to take.
"Currently, the numbers are small enough in general for the public health authorities to still be able to contact each individual one and actually tell them what they need to do,” he said.
“So, in South Australia, for example, each one has been contacted, they've been told what they need to do, and it depends on the setting.”
People wearing face masks after picking up food in Brisbane. Source: AAP
“So, some people, if they've got a few symptoms, they'll be told how long they need to stay out of the way. Having said that, there are others - for example, health workers - who will need to actually have some testing and have possibly a longer period away before they can return to work."
What if you feel unwell?
Dr Moy said people who are self-isolating need to monitor themselves and seek further medical help if their condition gets worse.
“Irrespective of whether you're just staying home or not for the period you've been advised, if you get sicker along the way, you need to seek treatment, and ring up, or contact someone urgently, to get that advice about whether the care that you are getting needs to be escalated.”
“It may involve hospitalisation if you're developing the dreaded pneumonia.”
So not everyone needs to go to hospital?
Not everyone who tests positive for coronavirus should go to hospital.
Dr Moy warns that for people who aren't seriously ill, going to the hospital would be a drain on its precious resources.
"I mean, there is limited capacity,” he said. “And there are two problems with that. The first is that it takes up hospital capacity, which we are going to need. And, as the numbers get greater, it will just not be feasible.”
“The other thing is that it is quite reasonable to be able to stay at home and then not bring the virus, potentially, into a hospital, which will then have to treat you with significant amounts of personal protection equipment, which will be burnt up having to manage you, when you might actually be well."
What about the Telehealth resource?
In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, the federal government has put money into vastly expanding the availability of Telehealth, which allows people in Australia to contact and consult with a doctor remotely.
Dr Moy says this is good for doctors and COVID-19 patients self-isolating should take advantage of the service where they can.
“Telehealth allows us to manage this reasonably well, in fact. It's actually not that hard to assess, via Telehealth, whether somebody's deteriorated,” he said.
“Now, sometimes, they're going to need proper examination, and they're going to need an X-Ray. That's where it gets more difficult. But it depends on the status of the patient, and the individual case.”
How well is Australia doing in flattening the curve?
The phrase "flattening the curve" has become a common one in the Australian lexicon in recent weeks.
What this refers to is lowering the spread of infection of COVID-19, and the rate of infection growth, to keep it within the available resources of the health system to treat people.
Dr Moy says it appears the drastic measures that we've seen taken, affecting just about every area of Australian life, in recent weeks, are making an impact in flattening the curve.
"Overall, I'm hopeful that we're starting to see a big part of a general thrust, in terms of the social distancing and social isolation strategies that have been implemented across Australia. Hoping we're starting to see the very beginnings of the flattening of the curve."
But Dr Moy also warns that Australians cannot afford to be complacent yet, and vigilance is still very much required in people's behaviour.
More information about what you should do if you think you have COVID-19 or receive a positive test can be found at
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at
