According to the Australian Government – Department of Health (2020), Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. These can range from the common cold to more serious diseases.
COVID-19 is the disease caused by a new coronavirus. It was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, City in China.
Other coronaviruses include Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
The World Health Organisation has characterised COVID-19 as a pandemic.
How to protect yourself and others:
According to the Australian Government, Department of Health (2020), to prevent the spread of viruses, practise good hygiene and social distancing.
Good hygiene includes:
- Covering your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue;
- Disposing of tissues properly;
- Washing your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet;
- Using alcohol-based hand sanitisers;
- Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces;
- If you are sick, avoiding contact with others and staying more than 1.5 metres away from people who appear sick;
Social distancing includes:
- staying at home when you are unwell;
- Avoiding large public gatherings if they’re not essential;
- Keeping a distance of 1.5 metres between you and other people whenever possible;
- Minimising physical contact, especially with people at higher risk such as older people and people with existing health conditions;
Who is most at risk?
In Australia, the people most at risk of getting the virus are those who have:
- Recently been travelling overseas;
- Been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19;
Based on what we know about coronaviruses, those most at risk of serious infection are:
- People with compromised immune systems (such as people who have cancer);
- Elderly people;
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (as they have higher rates of chronic illness);
- People with chronic medical conditions;
- People in group residential settings;
- People in detention facilities;
Symptoms:
According to World Health Organisation (2020), common signs of infection include:
- Respiratory symptoms;
- Fever;
- Cough;
- Shortness of breath;
- Breathing difficulties;
In the more severe cases, infection can cause:
- Pneumonia;
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome;
- Kidney failure;
- Death;
What to do if you suspect you have COVID-19:
If you believe you are sick with COVID-19, DO NOT ATTEND YOUR LOCAL GP UNANNOUNCED. Please call the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Health Information Line – 1800 020 080. They will advise on steps to take.
If you’d like to talk to your GP, call the clinic and speak with reception before potentially spreading the virus to others.
If you need to self-isolate:
According to health.gov.au, If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19, you must stay at home to prevent it spreading to other people.
You might also be asked to stay at home if you may have been exposed to the virus.
Staying at home means you:
- Do not go to public places such as work, school, shopping centres, childcare or university;
- Ask someone to get food and other necessities for you and leave them at your front door;
- Do not let visitors in — only people who usually live with you should be in your home;
You do not need to wear a mask in your home. If you need to go out to seek medical attention, wear a surgical mask (if you have one) to protect others.
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