NSW Health has announced changes to the way COVID-19 cases are being managed in the community.
If you are under 50 years of age, have had two doses of COVID-19 vaccine and do not have any chronic medical conditions, you can safely manage COVID-19 at home.
If you test positive for COVID-19, NSW Health will contact you by text message or phone call. They will provide instructions on how to self-manage at home.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must:
- self-isolate at home until medically cleared, even if you are fully vaccinated
- not leave your home except for urgent medical care or in an emergency
- tell the following people that you have tested positive for COVID-19:
- people staying at your house
- friends and other people you have met socially where you spent 15 minutes or more in an indoor environment without a mask from 2 days before you got sick until now (if you had no symptoms, from 2 days before your test until now)
- your manager at work
- the head of the education facility you attend or relevant staff member.
You don’t have to tell your contacts if you are too unwell, or you feel it isn’t safe to do so. If you need assistance, phone the NSW Health Isolation Support Line on 1800 943 553.
To view advice for people with confirmed cases of COVID-19, visit NSW Health.
Download a guide on managing COVID-19 at home. (PDF, 1.14MB)
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
Symptoms include:
- fever
- chills or night sweats
- cough
- sore throat
- tiredness
- difficulty breathing
- headache
- muscle and joint pain
- nausea and vomiting
- loss of appetite
- runny nose
- blocked nose.
If you are having severe headaches or dizziness, difficulty breathing or have pain in your chest, call Triple Zero (000) straight away and tell the ambulance staff that you have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
How to protect yourself and others
- Get a COVID-19 vaccination.
- Always check in and out, wherever you can.
- Wear a face mask when required.
- Get tested if you have the mildest of symptoms – even if you have been double vaccinated.
- Self-isolate until you get a negative test result.
- Practise good hygiene. Wash your hands often and well.
- Gather outdoors or in large well-ventilated indoor spaces.
- Physically distance where you can.