What to do if you have COVID-19 symptoms or are a close contact

Here’s what Australian state and federal governments advise you to do if you have COVID symptoms or are deemed a close contact of someone who is positive for COVID-19.

Portrait of woman drive thru covid-19 test by medical staff with PPE suit by throat swab Source: Getty Images

What should I do if I develop COVID-19 symptoms？ 

• Governments advise you should take a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) or PCR lab test if you have symptoms. RATs can be purchased from pharmacies and some retailers, while PCR tests are conducted at testing clinics. 
• You must self-quarantine at home while awaiting the result of your test. 
• If your test is negative, you should continue to monitor for symptoms, but can leave isolation. 
• If your PCR test is positive, you must isolate for seven days from the day you took your PCR test. If you have no symptoms, take a RAT self-test on day six, or if you still have symptoms, take a PCR test and continue to isolate.
• If you have no symptoms on day seven and have received a negative RAT or PCR result, you can leave isolation, but should remain in isolation if you are still symptomatic. 
• If you still have symptoms on day 12, you should again take a PCR or RAT self-test. 
• Note that in WA,SA,NT, Tas, you should get a PCR test at a testing clinic if you have any symptoms, instead of a RAT.  

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What if I am a close contact or a member of my household tests positive？ 

• If you are deemed a close contact by health authorities or have symptoms and live with someone who is COVID-positive, take a RAT self-test or PCR test at a testing clinic and prepare to isolate at home for seven days.  
• If your PCR test result is negative, remain at home and on day six take another RAT self-test or PCR test. If that test is negative, you can leave isolation. 
• If your PCR test is positive, you must isolate for seven days from the day you took your PCR test. If you have no symptoms, take a RAT self-test on day six, or if you still have symptoms, take a PCR test and continue to isolate.
  
• If you have no symptoms and negative test results on day seven, you can leave self-quarantine. 
• If you have symptoms or positive tests, you must remain in isolation with symptoms, and on day 12 you must take another RAT or PCR test. 

What is a ‘close contact’? 

Most states have agreed that a 'close contact' is someone who lives or has stayed with a COVID-positive person for four hours, but some states and territories have different approaches to determining and notifying contacts:

• In SA, you are a close contact if a household member is a confirmed case. Close contacts in SA should take a PCR test and quarantine for seven days, then take a PCR test on day six. If symptoms develop, you will need to take another PCR test. 
• In WA, contact tracers will notify you about quarantine requirements if you are deemed a close contact. 
• In the NT, contact tracers will notify close contacts, who must have a PCR test and self-quarantine for 14 days. You cannot leave quarantine until health authorities tell you it is safe to do so. People living in the same household as an identified close contact also need to self-quarantine until the close contact receives an initial negative test result. 

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What if I’m a close contact with no symptoms? 

• If you are a close contact but have no symptoms, you should take a RAT self-test, isolate for seven days and monitor symptoms. 
• If you develop symptoms, follow the above procedure for testing and self-quarantine. 
• If you don’t develop symptoms, take another RAT self-test on day six. If the result is negative and you have no symptoms, you can leave isolation. 

What if I’m not a close contact?

In most states you are not deemed a close contact if you haven’t stayed with the positive member in the same household for over 4 hours. 

But if you have been in contact with someone who is COVID-positive, you should monitor for symptoms and take a RAT self-test, or a PCR test if you develop symptoms and are deemed a close contact. Stay home until you receive the result. 

To connect with an interpreter in your language about information on COVID-19 through the Australian Translating and Interpreting Services (ATIS), call 1800 131 450.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccination and bookings, call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.

For further information about COVID-19, it is recommended you contact your doctor or health professional.

As advice on vaccines continues to emerge, stay informed on all the latest by visiting the SBS Coronavirus Portal to read the information in your language.