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Managing COVID-19 at Home

With increasing numbers of COVID cases in Western Australia, it is likely that many of us will experience having to manage the virus at home, either for ourselves or a family member. In this month’s blog, we take a look at how you can manage COVID at home and what you can do to keep you and your household safe.

Be prepared

With more and more cases of COVID-19 in the community, it is important to prepare yourself for having to manage COVID at home.

To get yourself prepared to manage COVID-19 at home, make sure you have these key essentials on hand:

  • Thermometer – a temperature of 38°C or above can be a symptom of COVID-19.
  • Face masks – if isolating at home with others, everyone should wear masks when in a room together to prevent spreading the virus.
  • Hand sanitiser and soap – good hand hygiene helps reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Make sure you have enough on hand to get you and your family through a period of isolation.
  • Pain relief medication – paracetamol and ibuprofen can help to relieve any discomfort caused by COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Electrolytes – to help manage dehydration that may result from any vomiting or diarrhoea, which are known symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Regular Medications – make sure you have at least a week’s supply of any medicines that you take regularly, including prescription medicines.
  • Cleaning Products and Disposable Gloves – to keep frequently touched surfaces (such as doorknobs, light switches and remote controls) clean and disinfected and reduce the risk of transmission.
  • Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) – to test yourself and family members for COVID-19, when it is not possible to get a PCR test.
  • Important Contact Numbers – for your nominated support person, emergency services and GP, as well as those you can call if you need help with food deliveries, essential supplies or looking after your children, pets or people in your care if you are unable to.
  • Activities – to keep you and others in your house entertained while in isolation.

Symptoms

The common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

  • Fever
  • Runny nose
  • Sore, scratchy throat
  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dry cough
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Diarrhoea
  • Vomiting
  • Chills/night sweats
  • Loss of taste and/or smell

If you have any of these symptoms, no matter how mild, you will need to isolate and get yourself tested straight away. You will also need to get tested if you are identified as a close contact of a positive case and isolate for 7 days from the date of contact.

The good news is that most people who are generally fit, healthy, younger and vaccinated will have only mild symptoms and can manage their COVID-19 recovery at home. If you are in a higher-risk category or have underlying health conditions, talk to your GP about the best way to manage COVID-19 at home.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 and experience worsening symptoms that mean you are unable to take care of yourself in the usual way (such as showering, putting on clothes or making food), then contact your GP.

If your symptoms become severe, such as difficulty breathing when resting, then phone 000 immediately and let the operator know that you have COVID.

This checklist is a handy way to help you prepare for managing COVID-19 at home and to know what to do if you test positive or have symptoms>>

Getting tested

There are two tests available for COVID-19 – Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

RATs are readily available from pharmacies, supermarkets and other retail outlets and can be done at home. They work by testing your saliva or nasal swab, with a result available in around 15 minutes. When using a RAT, it’s important to follow the instructions very carefully to ensure you get the most accurate result.

If you receive a positive RAT test, you will need to isolate at home and register your result with WA Health, so they can advise you of what you need to do next.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Tests can detect genetic material from the virus and are conducted by trained health professionals, with results produced by a lab. It can take up to three working days to receive your PCR results. You will be contacted by phone if you are positive or SMS if you are negative. Results are provided between 8am and 8pm daily. PCR tests are more reliable than RATs and are available for free at COVID testing clinics across the state>>

While waiting for results of your PCR test, you will need to isolate until a negative result is confirmed.

I’ve tested positive for COVID-19. Now what?

If you test positive for COVID-19, you will need to isolate at home for a minimum of 7 days and tell those you live with about your positive result.

Try to manage any symptoms that you have and rest up so that you can recover. If your symptoms worsen to the point you are unable to look after yourself properly, contact your GP.

If your symptoms become severe and you have difficulty breathing when resting, then phone 000 immediately and let the operator know that you have COVID.

It’s important to also look after your mental health while in isolation. You can help stay on top of your mental wellbeing by:

  • Keeping in touch with family and friends through phone calls, video calls, emails, social media or writing letters.
  • Maintaining health routines.
  • Accessing support if you need it.

For more information on taking care of your mental health, visit https://www.thinkmentalhealthwa.com.au/mental-health-and-covid-19/

If, after isolating for 7 days, you have NO symptoms, then no further test is required and you can stop isolating.

If you DO have symptoms on day 7, remain in isolation until those symptoms clear or get clearance from a medical professional before leaving isolation.

Once you leave isolation, for the next 7 days, you will need to:

  • wear a mask indoors and outdoors for the next 7 days. This includes when in a vehicle used by people other than your household members (such as public transport or ride-sharing services); and
  • avoid visiting healthcare, aged and residential care facilities or correctional facilities.

Stay COVID Safe

Once you are out of isolation and clear of COVID, keep yourself COVID safe by continuing to follow the state’s COVID-19 guidelines, including:

  • Get up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Wear a mask
  • Practice social distance by keeping at least 1.5 metres or two arms lengths from each other)
  • Maintain good personal hygiene by washing hands often with soap and water, using hand sanitizer, and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow.
  • Stay home if you are unwell and getting tested if you display any COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Use the ServiceWA or SafeWA app to check in.

Stay up-to-date with the latest COVID advice

With the rules and restrictions around COVID-19 constantly changing, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest restrictions and advice around testing, isolating and keeping you and your family safe.

For the latest COVID-19 information, visit https://www.wa.gov.au/government/covid-19-coronavirus

If you have any queries or concerns about COVID-19, call the Coronavirus Information Helpline on 1326843.

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