The COVID-19 Pandemic

On 11^th March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in an effort to encourage countries to take a whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to prevent further spread, save lives, and minimise the impact of coronavirus.

We understand our patients have a lot of questions about COVID-19, so we have prepared a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below. Although this information is accurate as of today, the situation is rapidly evolving. We, therefore, encourage you to regularly check the Australian Government Department of Health’s website for the latest information.

Be assured that our clinics remain open for business and that we are actively taking steps to protect our patients, doctors, and staff during this challenging time. We’ve switched to consulting patients mostly via telephone. This change will protect the health and safety of our doctors, staff, and patients. Where face-to-face consults are necessary, we are taking extra precautions in our clinics to ensure everyone is protected from potential exposure to COVID-19, which may evolve over time. Measures might include taking people's temperatures upon arrival and separating chairs in our waiting rooms to increase social distancing.

The health and safety of our doctors, staff, and patients are paramount. Thank you for your understanding; rest assured, we're here for your ongoing health needs.

Every person across our country has an important role to play in helping to protect each other. The most critical mechanisms for protection at this point are personal distance and hygiene.

This means:

• Drink water and eat healthy food, and don’t share cups, cutlery, etc. without thoroughly cleaning first.
• Keep your distance from others (1-2 meters where possible), and don’t shake hands or hug.
• Check you have enough regular medication and get a flu shot.
• Wash your hands with soap regularly and for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitiser.
• Get plenty of sleep, stay fit, and active.
• Avoid touching your face (particularly eyes, nose, and mouth) or public surfaces.
• Clean your mobile phone with a disinfectant wipe regularly.
• Stay in contact with friends and family. Plan for when people get sick.
• Regularly disinfect surfaces with household disinfectant.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, or cough into your elbow.
• If you’re sick, stay home and call your GP or health advice line. If you’re breathless, call an ambulance.

We all need to look out for each other and work together.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is COVID-19?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus not previously identified in humans. It was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Since then, there has been a large and ongoing outbreak that has spread worldwide. While there is currently no existing immunity in our community, effective vaccines have been developed.

2. What is the latest Australian Government advice about COVID-19?
Up-to-date information and advice from the Australian Government on COVID-19 is available here.

3. What are the symptoms?

Symptoms may include a fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, or runny nose.

In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia with severe acute respiratory distress.

4. How does the virus spread?

COVID-19 can spread from person to person through infected cough or sneeze droplets, or by touching contaminated surfaces or objects (tables, door handles, bags, etc.), and then a person touching their eyes, nose or mouth. It is thought the virus can survive on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. While most infected people show symptoms, a person might be infectious in the 24 hours beforehand. If exposed, a person might develop symptoms within 2 to 14 days, although symptoms will typically show in 5 to 6 days. If you come into close contact with a confirmed case, you will need to self-isolate for the required period of time from the date of the last contact with the confirmed case.

5. What does ‘self-isolation’ actually mean?

At some stage, you may be required to self-isolate. Self-isolation means staying at home or in a hotel and away from situations where you could infect other people, ensuring you avoid close contact with others (that is face-to-face contact closer than 1 metre for more than 15 minutes), including:

• Social gatherings
• Work, school, child care/pre-school centres, university, and other education providers
• Faith-based gatherings
• Aged care and health care facilities
• Sports gatherings
• Restaurants; and
• All public gatherings.

You should avoid having visitors to your home, but people can drop off food and other necessities. Please follow the Australian Government and local State advice.

6. How can you protect yourself and your family?

The best way to protect yourself and your family from COVID-19 is to maintain personal distance and good hygiene.

Here are are a few simple tips to help you stay well:

1. Wash your hands with soap regularly for at least 20 seconds, or use hand sanitiser.
2. Avoid touching your face (particularly eyes, nose, and mouth), or public surfaces.
3. Regularly disinfect surfaces with household disinfectant.
4. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing, or cough into your elbow.
5. Don’t share cups, cutlery, etc. without thoroughly cleaning first.
6. Avoid unnecessary contact with sick people.

The Raising Children website has a lot of useful information to help families to navigate the current COVID-19 situation.

7. Who is most at risk of COVID-19?

In Australia, the people thought to be most at risk of getting COVID-19 coronavirus infections are those who have:

• been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19;
  
• people with compromised immune systems (e.g. cancer);
• people with diagnosed chronic medical conditions;
• elderly people;
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as they have higher rates of chronic illness;
• people living in residential aged care facilities and disability group homes;
• people in detention facilities;
• students in boarding schools;
• people on Cruise Ships;

8. What do I do if I’m worried that I’ve been infected with COVID-19?

Stay at home.

The Australian Government has developed a free online COVID-19 Symptom Checker.

If you’re concerned, you can call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080 for information and advice about COVID-19. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you experience a medical emergency, call 000.