Information for people who test positive for COVID-19

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19

If you test positive to COVID-19, you should stay at home until your symptoms are gone and take steps to protect others.

You should:

  • Stay at home while you have COVID-19 symptoms
  • If you’re at higher risk of severe illness follow your management plan, and contact your GP for a telehealth assessment early in your illness. See Managing your COVID-19 illness
  • If you need to leave the house, you should:
    • wear a mask inside places that are not your own home, including on public transport
    • avoid attending large gatherings or crowded indoor places
    • avoid visiting people at higher risk of severe illness for at least 7 days
    • avoid high-risk settings, like hospitals, aged or disability care facilities. If you cannot delay visits to a high-risk setting, seek prior approval from the place and follow any COVID-19 policies or guidance they have in place. If you work in a high-risk setting, a longer period of staying away from your workplace may be recommended to protect other staff, patients, residents and visitors. Check what your workplace policy is for COVID-19 and talk to your employer about when you should return to the workplace.
  • Maintain appropriate separation from others, particularly people in your household.
    • You are most likely to be infectious (i.e., able to share COVID-19 with others) in the 2 days before your symptoms started and while you have symptoms (such as fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough).
    • You should tell the people who live with you and those you've spent time with that you have COVID-19 so they can monitor for symptoms. They should follow the advice for people exposed to COVID-19 if they have been in the household with you during your infectious period.

Managing your COVID-19 illness

Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms that can be managed at home and will recover in a few days.

People who have a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 illness may be eligible for oral COVID-19 treatments. These people should contact their GP for a telehealth assessment early in illness. COVID-19 antiviral medicines work best if taken as soon as possible, and within 5 days from when your symptoms start.

Most people can manage their symptoms at home by resting and drinking plenty of fluids.

You can also use:

  • pain relief
  • heat/cold packs, or rehydration tablets, icy poles or sachets.

If you need additional support:

How long it takes to recover from COVID-19 is different for everyone.

Your recovery may depend on many factors, including your age, your overall health, and how severe your COVID-19 symptoms were.

If you are concerned about severe or ongoing symptoms, please talk to your GP or regular health professional.

COVID Care@Home program

The COVID Care@Home team includes registered nurses who can provide advice on symptom management and assist you with engaging with your usual GP or an alternative provider.

You can contact the team on 02 5124 3085 between 8.30am to 5pm, daily.

Read more about the COVID Care@Home program on the Canberra Health Services website.

Seeking urgent medical attention

Call triple zero (000) straight away or present to your nearest Emergency Department if your symptoms are worsening and you are concerned, especially if you are experiencing:

  • increasing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • chest pain
  • dizziness or feeling like you might faint when standing
  • problems tolerating oral fluids (for example not keeping down water or rehydration solutions).

Tell the phone operator you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19, have severe symptoms and need an ambulance

Attending medical appointments

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should book a telehealth appointment or contact your practice regarding face-to-face options.

If your medical appointment is at a high-risk setting, like a hospital, you should not enter that facility until 7 days after your positive COVID-19 test, unless you are:

  • accessing urgent medical care, or
  • have prior approval from the facility.

If you need to attend an appointment during this time, discuss this with the facility prior to your attendance.

You can attend hospitals for urgent care at any time.

Non urgent care may need to be rescheduled or provided through telehealth.

You should follow public health recommendations, like washing your hands, wear a mask if it is advised, and maintain physical distancing.

Mental health and wellbeing support

It is important to seek support if you are having strong feelings of worry, unease, fear and/or you are struggling to cope.

More information is also available on the mental health and wellbeing during COVID-19 page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Commonly reported symptoms in the few weeks after infection include, but are not limited to:

  • fatigue
  • problems with memory, concentration, or sleep
  • ongoing cough
  • breathlessness
  • joint or muscle aches
  • chest pain
  • change in sense of taste or smell
  • diarrhoea
  • mood changes
  • headache

Seek medical advice immediately if your symptoms are worsening or you are concerned, especially if you are experiencing:

  • chest pains
  • difficulty breathing
  • heart palpitations
  • new onset confusion
  • new or returning fever.

Some people may have symptoms that last much longer.

Symptoms that are more likely to last beyond a few weeks include:

  • feeling tired (fatigue)
  • breathlessness
  • chest discomfort
  • cough.

If the symptoms continue for more than 3 months after the onset of illness, and they are having a significant impact on your day to day activities, this is sometimes known as long COVID. Most people do not develop long COVID after their initial illness, even if they continue to have symptoms.

If you are concerned about severe or ongoing symptoms, please talk to your GP or regular health professional.

Most children who test positive for COVID-19 can be safely cared for at home by their usual household carers.

For advice on managing children with COVID-19, see children and COVID-19

Call triple zero (000) immediately, or go to the nearest emergency department if you are concerned that your child:

  • is seriously unwell
  • has difficulty breathing
  • is severely dehydrated (not tolerating oral fluids, decreased urination and/or decreased wet nappies), or
  • fainting.

Tell the operator that your child has COVID-19.

If supplies of your regular medication are running low, please contact your local pharmacy about getting your medications delivered.

If you need prescriptions, please contact a GP for a telehealth appointment or script renewal.

They can arrange for e-scripts to be sent directly to your phone, email or pharmacist.

Generally, no. You don’t need to take another COVID-19 tests to leave isolation, or so that you can return to work.

A small number of immunocompromised people may be required to have repeat COVID-19 tests if they are currently receiving care in, or are patients in, high-risk settings.

A GP, regular medical practitioner or specialist can help you determine if more tests are required, based on your individual circumstances.

Your doctor or vaccine provider can tell you how many doses of COVID vaccine you need, and how long you should wait between doses – including if you’ve recently had a COVID infection.

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

Last Updated: January 16 2024