What do i do if i’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for covid-19?

If you test positive for COVID-19 you must immediately isolate.

Índice Show

Isolating if you have COVID-19
Breastfeeding
Managing symptoms
Medical care while you are positive
Medicines to treat COVID-19
Mental health and wellbeing
If your child has COVID-19
Caring for yourself after COVID-19
Vaccination and boosters
Help in your language

Call the National Coronavirus Helpline for information about how to look after yourself when you are sick with COVID-19.

1800 020 080

You can find translated information about testing positive for COVID-19 in over 60 languages.

State and territory health authorities have information, resources and links for more support for people with COVID-19, including when you can leave isolation:

Isolating if you have COVID-19

It is an Australian public health requirement that anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 must isolate. If you have the virus, you can pass it on to others. Isolating protects the people around you and the broader community from COVID-19.

Isolation means:

staying at home – do not attend work or school, visit public areas, or travel on public transport, in taxis or ride-share services. If you have an appointment you cannot miss – such as a visit to a doctor, family violence service or police – you must tell them that you have COVID-19.

You should stay separated from other people in your house. Stay in a separate, well-ventilated room away from other people.

If you cannot isolate in a separate room you should:

avoid shared spaces in the house as much as possible
wear a mask when moving through shared areas
wipe down any surfaces you touch COVID-19 positive
if you can, use a separate bathroom that others do not use. If you share a bathroom, wipe down any surface you touch and flush the toilet with a closed lid
do not let visitors enter your home, unless they are providing necessary medical or personal care, or emergency services
have all groceries and other essential items delivered to your home.

The people who usually live in your house with you can stay there if they are unable to live somewhere else during this time. If they stay, they are contacts and need to isolate too.

If you have a household contact who has a weak immune system, is elderly or has another risk for severe COVID-19, contact your state/territory health department to see if they can help with finding them places to stay.

Ensure you share this information with the members of your household.

Breastfeeding

If you are breastfeeding, you should continue to breastfeed or express breastmilk if you are feeling well. Research shows that mothers who have had COVID-19 pass antibodies to their infant via breastmilk.

Visit the Australian Breastfeeding Association for more information about breastfeeding and COVID-19.

Managing symptoms

Most people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms, or no symptoms at all (asymptomatic). These can be managed with over-the-counter medication. Find out more about managing COVID-19 at home.

Try to get plenty of rest, drink lots of water and eat well. You can still do moderate exercise if you feel well enough, within your home and/or garden if you have one.

Seek urgent medical attention if develop severe symptoms such as:

difficulty breathing
an oxygen level of less than 92% when tested with a pulse oximeter
blue lips or face
pain or pressure in the chest
cold and clammy, or pale and mottled, skin
fainting or collapsing
being confused
becoming difficult to wake up
little or no urine output
coughing up blood.

Call 000

If you are unsure if your symptoms are severe use the HealthDirect COVID-19 symptom checker.

Medical care while you are positive

Your state and territory health authority will connect you with a GP, nurse or other health care provider to support you while you are sick.

The GP or nurse will work with you to monitor your symptoms for as long as you are sick. You may need to monitor your temperature, oxygen levels and heart rate.

The GP or nurse can also advise you of any other medicines that might be needed to manage your symptoms, like paracetamol or ibuprofen. Oral rehydration solution can be used to help keep you well hydrated, especially if you have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Medicines to treat COVID-19

While there is no cure for COVID-19, there are several medicines that are proving to be effective treatments for people with COVID-19.

You cannot buy these treatments yourself, they must be prescribed by a health care professional.

Mental health and wellbeing

Being in isolation can be stressful. It can be even more difficult for people with pre-existing mental health issues or past experiences of trauma or detention.

Let your GP or nurse know about any mental health issues that you have had in the past and any new concerns.

There are a range of mental health support services you can access.

If your child has COVID-19

Having your child diagnosed with COVID-19 can be very stressful for you and your family. Severe COVID-19 in children is rare, most children will have no, or only mild symptoms.

A GP or nurse will treat your child based on your child’s age, symptoms and past medical history.

Try to keep your child isolated from other family members where practical.

If you are worried about your child’s symptoms contact your GP as soon as possible. If they are showing severe symptoms, call 000 immediately.

Learn more about caring for a child, family member or housemate with COVID-19.

Caring for yourself after COVID-19

You can only leave isolation after 7 days, if your symptoms have cleared up.

Make time to follow-up with your doctor after you leave isolation.

Most people who test positive for COVID-19 recover completely, but some people may develop long COVID.

Talk to your GP if you are experiencing ongoing mental health issues such as:

trouble thinking clearly, focusing, or remembering
depression, anxiety or other mental health problems.

Vaccination and boosters

Being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 reduces your risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and death.

If you are not vaccinated against COVID-19, or are eligible for your booster dose, you should make an appointment using the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder once you no longer have symptoms.

If you have been exposed to COVID-19, use this advice to understand your risk and what you can do to protect yourself, your family and your community.

Last updated: 12 July 2022

COVID-19 is common in the community. We ask people with COVID-19 to tell the people they have spent time with from 2 days before they started having symptoms or 2 days before they tested positive (whichever came first) that they have COVID-19.

If you are told that you have been in contact with someone that has tested positive to COVID-19, you should use this advice to understand your risk and what you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your community.

The risk of getting COVID-19 increases:

with the amount of time you spend with someone who has COVID-19 and how closely you interact with them
when you are indoors (the risk is lower if you are outdoors)
when you don’t wear a mask (the risk is much lower if the person you are with also wears a mask).

Vaccination decreases the risk of getting COVID-19, but this protection reduces over time and can be less effective against certain variants of COVID-19. A booster vaccine will significantly increase your protection, against severe illness. Everyone should get their booster as soon as they are eligible. Everyone aged 16 years and over is strongly recommended to have a booster COVID-19 vaccine.

People who are aged 30 and over are eligible to receive a second booster dose (winter booster) of a COVID-19 vaccine. A second is booster is recommended for people aged 50 and over to prevent severe disease. For further information, see the COVID-19 vaccines: Frequently asked questions and the NSW Health Booster vaccination: Frequently asked questions.

To find a COVID-19 vaccination appointment near you, please visit the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Finder.

After being exposed to someone with COVID-19 you are at risk of illness for 14 days. Most people who develop COVID-19 will get symptoms in the first 7 days, however some people will develop symptoms between day 7 and 14.

Your risk of getting COVID-19 is based on the type of contact you had with a person who has COVID-19. When thinking about what steps you can take to reduce the risk to yourself and others, think about your personal circumstances, including the risk you could infect vulnerable people you live or work with, especially if they have conditions that make them more at risk of severe illness (for example, chronic illness, or undergoing chemotherapy).

If you live with someone who has COVID-19 you must follow the NSW Health Household and Close Contact Guidelines.

If you were in contact with someone who has COVID-19 outside of your household (i.e. you don’t live with them), please use the table below to assess your risk and take steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

All people exposed to someone with COVID-19 should monitor for symptoms. If symptoms develop, get tested for COVID-19 immediately. If you need to get tested and cannot access a rapid antigen test, you can get a test at a testing clinic.

Take time to speak with your GP about your personal health circumstances. If you are at a higher risk of severe illness you may be eligible for certain treatments available that only work when used in the early stages of illness. Having these discussions with your doctor early can help you develop a plan for what to do if you get sick.

Generally, you do not need to test or self-isolate if you have had COVID-19 and have been released from self-isolation in the last 4 weeks, because the risk of reinfection is low.

If you have any new symptoms in the 4 weeks since you have been released, you should stay home until they resolve. If you are at a higher risk of severe illness and have symptoms, speak to your doctor about taking a COVID-19 test, they may also recommend testing for other respiratory viruses such as flu.

For further information, see the testing positive to COVID-19 factsheet.

Use this table to assess your risk of COVID-19, and what to do, if you are told you are a contact of someone with COVID-19.

About you

Risk of COVID-19

What do I need to do?

I live with someone who has COVID-19
(I am a household contact)

I have been formally notified by NSW Health that I am a close contact
(I am a close contact)

High

All household contacts and close contacts must comply with the NSW Health Household and Close Contact Guidelines.

For 7 days after a person in your household has tested positive:

If you have or develop symptoms, you must self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19
Do not visit high-risk settings (healthcare, aged care, disability care or correctional facilities) unless you need care, or there are exceptional circumstances and you have obtained the permission of the facility to visit (e.g. for end of life visits).
Tell your workplace or educational facility that someone you live with has tested positive to COVID-19,and seek their approval before returning to work or school if you cannot work or study from home.
If you are over 12 years of age you must wear a mask when you are in an indoor setting that is not your own home, including work and tertiary education settings (such as TAFE and University). School and early childhood education settings may have their own guidance for students which should be followed. Masks can be removed in some circumstances (for example, if you have a physical or mental health condition or disability that makes wearing a mask unsuitable, or if you are eating or drinking). A summary of these reasons can be found here.

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19 for at least 7 days after a person in your household tests positive, it is also strongly recommended that you:

Work or study from home where you can.
Avoid contact with people at high risk of severe illness as much as possible.
Avoid large or crowded indoor gatherings where you will be in contact with groups of people that you don’t live with, where possible.

Where practicable, do a rapid antigen test if you need to attend an indoor gathering with people that you don’t live with, even if you do not have symptoms (including in workplaces and schools).

I spent a long time with someone who has COVID-19 (e.g. I stayed overnight at their house or I spent the evening indoors at the house) or

I interacted closely with someone who has COVID-19 and we were not wearing masks (e.g. we drove a long distance together, or I looked after children who are now positive.)

High

As you are at high risk of COVID-19, it is strongly recommended that you follow the steps above for household and close contacts.

While this is not mandatory, this is important in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and protect people around you.

Monitor closely for symptoms, and if these develop at any time, get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until you receive a negative result.

I spent some time with a person who has COVID-19 (e.g. we had dinner together or met at a pub, club or other social function.)Moderate

It is recommended that you follow the steps for household contacts where possible.

In particular, avoid entering high risk settings, and visiting people at higher risk of severe illness where you can.

Monitor for symptoms, and if these develop at any time, get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until you receive a negative result.

I had brief or distanced contact with a person with COVID-19 (e.g. I dropped off shopping, or we went for a walk outdoors), or

I received a case alert in the Service NSW App.

Low

Keep taking steps to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as social distancing, regularly washing you hands, and wearing a mask if you go to crowded or poorly ventilated areas.

Monitor for symptoms, and if these develop at any time, get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until you receive a negative result.

People aged 60 years and older
Pregnant women
Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Pacific Islander people (from age 35 years and over)
People with obesity, diabetes, serious cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease (including severe asthma requiring hospitalisation the last 12 months), severe chronic liver or kidney disease, active cancer or who are immunocompromised
Some people with a disability including those with a disability that affects their lungs, heart or immune system
Residents of aged care and disability care facilities
People aged 18 years and older who are unvaccinated

Older age is a risk factor for severe illness, particularly when combined with significant underlying health conditions.

If you have symptoms and are at higher risk of severe illness, a PCR test is recommended.

For additional information for workplace-based exposures refer to NSW Government - Guidance for businesses with a worker who tests positive for COVID-19.

There are simple steps we can all take to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Don't go anywhere if you have symptoms of COVID-19. Get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result.
If you have been exposed to COVID-19, avoid high-risk settings (healthcare, aged care, disability care, correctional facilities) as much as possible in the first 7 days. If you have to visit one of these settings, we encourage you to do a rapid antigen test just beforehand and wear a mask while visiting.
Stay 1.5 metres away from other people where possible and avoid crowds.
Wear a mask.
Clean your hands regularly with hand sanitiser or soap and running water for 20 seconds.
Hold social gatherings outdoors or in well-ventilated areas, with limited numbers.