We have had a major increase in enquiries about how to manage COVID-19 positive(+) people at home. This is a stressful time and we understand it is difficult to keep up with the rapidly changing advice.
We have developed this page to provide a one-stop-shop for all your needs. We will do our best to update it efficiently as the advice changes.
It is important to note that this advice is general advice that will apply to most people. People who have COVID-19 and are immunocompromised or have other chronic conditions may need specialised advice from one of our GPs. Please book a telehealth.
I AM COVID-19 POSITIVE
- Isolate immediately for a minimum of 7 days
- Inform everyone that you have seen in the last 7-14 days that you have tested positive and encourage them to get tested
- Arrange for someone to make contactless deliveries of essential supplies to you
- Manage your symptoms
- Evaluate whether you are ready to leave isolation
- Avoid high-risk settings for a further 7 days after leaving isolation
- Delay any COVID-19 vaccine appointments until your isolation period is over and you feel well again
I AM A CONTACT OF SOMEONE WHO HAS TESTED POSITIVE TO COVID-19
- Get a test
- Assess your risk
- If you are a close contact, isolate immediately for 7 days from the day you last saw the COVID positive person
- If you test positive at any stage during your isolation, isolate for a minimum of 7 days from the day of the test and follow the advice for COVID positive people.
I LIVE WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS COVID-19
- Assess your risk
- Test yourself and other members of your household. Positive and negative members of the household should remain separate at all times.
- Separate people in the house based on risk:
- Positive people confined to an area with no or minimal overlap with negative people. Positive people should not be in common areas such as the kitchen or lounge room. They should use a separate bathroom where possible.
- Negative people should be cautious around each other as the virus may not be detected for 7-14 days:
- Wear masks and practice good hygiene around each other
- Practice social distancing
- Eat outside
- Clean all areas regularly throughout the isolation period. If bathrooms are shared with COVID positive people, they should be thoroughly cleaned after each use
- If you test positive at any stage, follow the guidelines for COVID+ patients
ISOLATING AT HOME
Who should isolate?
You should be isolating if you have 1) tested positive for COVID-19; or 2) are a close contact of someone who has tested for COVID-19. Click here for the definition of a close contact in NSW.
COVID-19+ people:
- Must isolate for minimum 7 days from the date of their test (CPR or RAT)
- If you still have symptoms on Day 6, you must isolate until Day 12
- Once you have left isolation, you should avoid high-risk settings such as healthcare for a further 7-days
- The government guidelines do not require you to do another test before leaving isolation. However, it would be wise to do a RAT test to insure you are no longer infectious.
Close contacts:
- Get a test (PCR or RAT) and isolate for 7 days from the date of their last exposure to the COVID-19+ person, regardless of your result
- On Day 6, a COVID-19 test (CPR or RAT) should be taken again
- If negative, you can leave isolation at the end of Day 7 but continue to avoid high-risk settings such as healthcare for a further 7 days.
- If you test positive at any stage, you must isolate for 7 days from the day of your positive test and follow the advice for COVID-19+ people as outlined above.
What does it mean to isolate?
Isolating means you remove all physical contact with other people by confining yourself to a space where others do not enter. You should not leave your space for any reason other than a medical emergency. Food and other supplies must be brought to you.
Tips on how to manage isolating at home can be found here.
I can’t isolate at home
If you are unable to isolate effectively at home for safety reasons
Testing for COVID-19
The testing rules for COVID-19 have recently changed. A Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) can be used in place of a PCR test to confirm your COVID-19 status.
To understand the difference of these tests, you can click on this link.
Clinical studies have shown that the PCR test is the most sensitive and accurate test. However, RAT are good at detecting the virus during its infectious period. Therefore, RAT tests are a good indicator on whether you are spreading the virus. Keep in mind that it can take up to 14 days for the virus to activate in your body post-exposure.
There are nation-wide supply shortages for both tests. Please follow these links for testing availability:
PCR testing clinics –
Rapid Antigen test availability –
We do not test in our clinic.