Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

1. What is COVID-19 and why the concern?

COVID-19 is a new coronavirus not previously identified in people and was first diagnosed in December 2019 in China.  It is a respiratory illness that causes similar symptoms to that of a cold or influenza.  The concern with this new virus is that we still don't have a lot of information about it and the long term effects.  To date we have no specific treatment for this virus.  Antibiotics are not effective against viruses.

2. People at risk?

In Australia, the people most at risk of contracting the virus are those who have

• Recently returned from overseas
• Been in close contact with someone who is a confirmed case COVID-19
• Healthcare, aged care or residential care workers
• You have lived in an area where there is a higher risk of community transmission, as defined by the local public health unit

3. Who is at most risk of a serious illness?

Some people who become infected may not get sick at all, some may experience mild symptoms from which they will recover easily, and others may become very ill, very quickly.  From the information we have gathered so far the people most at risk are

• Elderly people
• People with compromised immune systems , such as people with cancer
• People with chronic medical conditions

4. How can we prevent the spread of the virus?

Practicing good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence against most viruses.

You should:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating and after going to the toilet
• Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue, dispose of tissues directly after, and wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol based hand sanitiser
• If unwell, avoid contact with others (stay more than 1.5 meters away from other people), stay home from work, and avoid going to shops or other crowded areas
• Stay at home if you are unwell

To ensure we keep our waiting room safe for all our patients to use for their general visits, all patients with any cold/flu like symptoms will be booked for a Telehealth consultation with their GP in the first instance if eligible.  If the GP feels a patients needs to be physically assessed they will request the patient be assessed in their car in the car park at the rear of the surgery.  

5. What do I do if I develop symptoms?

If you develop symptoms which include the following:

• Fever       
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Diarrhoea 
• Vomiting/nausea
• Loss of smell or taste

Within 14 days of travelling overseas or contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 you should call the National Coronavirus Helpline (1800 020 080) or call your doctor for an urgent assessment. 

If you develop mild symptoms:

• Isolate yourself from other people
• Wear a face mask, if you have one, if you need to go out in public or are around others
• Call your doctor for a Telehealth consultation and tell them about your contact and the symptoms you now have

If you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing:

• Call 000 and ask for an ambulance; and
• Tell the ambulance officers that you have had contact with someone that has a confirmed case of COVID 19

6. When do I need to self isolate myself?

If you have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or have been in close contact with a person diagnosed with Covid-19, you need to isolate as directed by your state or territory health department.

If you have arrived in Australia from 28th March 2020, all travelers are required to undergo 14 days isolation.

Other reasons you may need to self isolate,  are if you are at risk of getting the virus, if you develop mild symptoms or if you have been tested for COVID-19. You will need to self isolate for 14 days or until the results of the swab are known.  Self isolation means that you are required to stay at home and must not attend public places such as work, schools, university,  childcare or shops.  Only people who usually live in the household should be in the home.  Do not allow visitors into the home.  Where possible, get others who are not required to be isolated to get food or other necessities for you and leave them at your front door.

If I have a test, do I have to self-isolate?

Be prepared for the nurse or doctor you have seen to request you self-isolate. They may decide you need to be isolated more formally in hospital if you are very unwell, or their judgement may be that you do not require to undertake strict isolation. This decision will depend on your condition and risk of your infecting others. You should ask the clinician about isolation when you are sent for your test.

I’m getting a COVID-19 test – do I need to tell my workplace? My child is getting tested, should I tell their school?

After having a COVID-19 test, you may need to self-isolate until you get your results. The same rule applies to children, too. This might mean you miss work or school, and it would be appropriate to tell your workplace or your child’s school that you’re absent because you have to self-isolate after a COVID-19 test. 

I’ve had my COVID-19 test but don’t have a result yet – what should I do?

Your health care provider will tell you at the time of the test being taken if you need to self-isolate at home until the test result is available.  Test results occasionally take several days to come back.

If you become more unwell while you are waiting for results, please contact your doctor or call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance if you think it’s an emergency. Make sure you let them know you are waiting for test results for COVID-19.

What happens if my test result is positive?

If the result is positive, you will receive a call from a public health unit which will tell you what to do next. 

What happens if my test result is negative?

If the result is negative, your doctor or the clinic that tested you may let you know.  Otherwise you should stay home until your symptoms have resolved.  If the clinic has not contacted you regarding your results, you can call them and ask if your results are available.

7. COVID-19 Testing Information

Can I get tested for COVID-19?

In Queensland, anyone who has any COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, should get tested immediately. Symptoms include a fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, fatigue, loss of smell or taste, diarrhoea, vomiting or nausea. It doesn’t matter if you have just one of these symptoms or a group of them, or whether you feel really sick or just a little unwell – if you’ve got any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately to get tested. Before your appointment, please call ahead and tell them about your symptoms.

My test was negative but I’m still feeling sick – should I get tested again?

If you’re still feeling unwell and it seems unusual or you need medical help to treat your symptoms, you should talk to a GP or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) to get medical advice about your condition.

Where can I get a COVID-19 test in Queensland?

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you need to contact your GP.  You can get tested at a Commonwealth Respiratory Clinic, or at public and private hospitals, where fever clinics have been established and at private pathology providers.

8. Should I wear a face mask?

Face mask can help to prevent the transmission of the virus from an infected patient to others.  Face masks can also be a useful measure to help control sustained community transmission.

9. What should I do now?

Steps that you can do to increase your chances of staying healthy are:

• If you have a chronic medical condition, NOW is the time to ensure it is under control.  COVID-19 tends to be worse in patients with conditions like asthma, heart disease and diabetes. 
• Expect travel restrictions on international travel, and quarantine requirements on returning to Australia
• Ensure you have your influenza vaccine.  We recommend everyone aim to get a flu vaccine this year, to avoid simultaneous infection with COVID-19 and influenza.

10. Where can I get further information?

For the latest advice and information, go to the Australian Government Department of Health website at

Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources for the general public | Australian Government Department of Health

Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)

and World Health Organisation website at Introduction to COVID-19: methods for detection, prevention, response (openwho.org)

For advice on Phone and Video consultations with your GP go to the RACGP website at https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/Advertising/Phone-and-video-consultations-with-your-regular-GP-Information-for-patients-FINAL.pdf

For advice on moles and spots and taking photos for your GP go to the Skin Cancer college website at https://www.skincancercollege.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Patient-Photo-Taking-Guide-PDFA-1.pdf

If you have any further concerns, please contact Sharon Hill our Practice Manager or speak with your GP when you next visit.

Kind Regards,

Doctors and staff at Tamborine Mountain Medical Practice