What is Coronavirus?

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus. Symptoms include fever, coughing, a sore throat and shortness of breath. The virus can spread from person to person. Currently there is no treatment for COVID-19.

See the most up-to-date Coronavirus (COVID-19) health alerts and case numbers here.

Symptoms

Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people will recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly. People with coronavirus may experience symptoms such as:

• fever

• respiratory symptoms

  • coughing

  • sore throat

  • shortness of breath

Other symptoms can include a runny nose, headache, muscle or joint pains, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of sense of smell, altered sense of taste, loss of appetite and fatigue.

If you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, call 000 for urgent medical help.

How it Spreads

The virus can spread from person to person through:

• close contact with an infectious person (including in the 48 hours before they had symptoms)

• contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze

• touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face

COVID-19 is a new disease, so there is no existing immunity in our community. This means that COVID-19 could spread widely and quickly.

When to get Tested

To stop the spread of COVID-19 people with even mild symptoms of respiratory infection should get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible. Early diagnosis means you can get the help you need and take steps to avoid spreading the virus to someone else.

Testing is important for anyone with symptoms and particularly if any of the following apply to you:

• you have returned from overseas in the past 14 days

• you travelled on a cruise ship (either passenger or crew) in the 14 days before developing symptoms

• you have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days

• you are a health care, aged care or residential care worker or staff member with direct patient contact

• you have lived in or travelled through an area where there is a higher risk of community transmission, as defined by the local public health unit

After getting tested, it may take a day or two for your test results to come back. If you have serious symptoms you will be kept in hospital and isolated from other patients to prevent the virus spreading. If your doctor says you are well enough to go home while you wait for your test results, you should:

• Isolate yourself at home

• Protect yourself and others (see below)

How to Protect Yourself & Others

To help slow the spread of COVID-19, practise good hygiene and physical distancing and follow the rules for public gatherings, quarantine and isolation (see what you can and can’t do under NSW rules here.)

Good Hygiene

Everyone – even when well – can help slow the spread of COVID-19. This means:

Physical Distancing

One way to slow the spread of viruses, such as coronavirus, is physical distancing. The more space between you and others, the harder it is for the virus to spread.

As states and territories ease restrictions, it is important everyone continues to stay 1.5 metres away from others wherever possible.

Isolation

A person with coronavirus (COVID-19) or who is suspected to have it must go into mandatory isolation.

Isolation means you:

• must not leave your home except in an emergency or to get essential medical care

• must not go into public places including work and shops

• must not let any other person into your home unless the person

  • lives with you and cannot live somewhere else

  • is providing medical care for you

  • is entering for an emergency

You should tell your public health unit before leaving your house if possible. If you leave, you must wear a mask.

You must stay isolated until your public health authority advises you are safe to leave. If you leave isolation without permission you may face criminal charges or a fine.

Quarantine

Quarantine is when you are well but may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19. If this happens you will be required to isolate from other people to monitor your symptoms and prevent the spread of the virus. The quarantine period is 14 days from when you may have been in contact with the virus.

You will need to go into quarantine if you:

• have returned home from overseas

• have been in contact with someone who has confirmed or is likely to have COVID-19

• are entering certain remote areas in Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory (unless exempt)

• are entering a state that has a required quarantine period

• have been directed to go into a mandatory 14-day period of quarantine by a public health authority

If you remain well after 14 days you will be able to leave quarantine. If you develop symptoms during this time you will need a test for COVID-19. Even if you test negative you must stay in quarantine for the full 14 days.

If you test positive you will need to go into isolation. Anyone who has been in your household is a close contact and must then go into quarantine.

 Working with Clients

House Supervisors will contact all staff to see whether they feel comfortable to continue working should a client or young person develop symptoms. Each of the houses, will be kept stocked with protective gear and cleaning materials such as masks, gloves, hand sanitiser, hand soap, surface disinfectant, etc. 

If a client or young person develops symptoms while you are on shift, you should take them to the nearest COVID-19 testing clinic.

During your shift

• Wear protective gear (disposable gloves and mask) at all times and try to keep your distance as much as possible from the client/YP, although we know this will be difficult.

• Ideally, the YP would be in isolation in their room but again we realise this is not a likely situation with some of our clients/YP. Just ensure to keep them indoors and entertained!

• Use a separate bathroom to the client/YP.

• Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitiser that contains 60% alcohol, after each physical interaction with the client/YP. 

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

• Do not share household items with the client/YP such as dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or other items. After the client/YP uses these items, you should wash them thoroughly with detergent. 

• Clean and sanitise all “high-touch” surfaces, such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables, at least once per day. Use a disinfectant household cleaning spray or wipe and be sure to wear gloves!

After your shift

• Staff who are interacting with the symptomatic client/YP must keep themselves safe and others around them. Once you leave your shift you are advised to go straight home and avoid contact with others. 

• Monitor your own health safety and notify your supervisor if you develop any symptoms.

• If possible, separate yourself from other people in your home as much as possible. If available, use a separate bathroom and bedroom. 

• It is best practice to limit contact, and quarantine for 14 days from the last day that you had contact with the symptomatic client/YP. 

Getting Food & Medication

• Staff members who are not working directly with the symptomatic YP may get food and medication to leave at the door. If the client/YP needs a prescription filled arrange this with your usual pharmacist or GP. You can then let another staff member know where to go to collect the medication.

• Arrange a food/grocery delivery service. Have all food left outside the house. Do not let any delivery person into the home.

• If you need a prescription filled, you can arrange for your doctor to send the prescription to a local pharmacy. They can then deliver it to the house. Read more about getting medicines and accessing health services.

Calling in Sick to Work

Full time/Part Time staff

If you are unwell, sick leave applies.

Staff who are unwell should comply with health and medical advice including that you should not attend the work place. The latest information about self isolation and quarantine requirements is available form the NSW Health website and the Australian Health website.

If sick leave is exhausted, special sick leave may be granted on a case-by-case basis. 

Casual staff

Casual employees may be entitled to up to 20 days special leave if they are absent from the workplace as a result of COVID-19. This is the same entitlement as ongoing staff. All payments will be issued pro rata and at the base rate of pay, that is, it will be paid at the Monday to Friday day shift rate.