Symptoms and when to get help
Learn about mild and moderate COVID-19 symptoms, which usually can be treated at home. Know how to recognise severe symptoms that will need medical attention.
Click on the link at the bottom of this page for a list of all the common COVID-19 symptoms. If you’re not sure what to do, use the COVID-19 Symptom Checker.
What you need to know
Mild symptoms that can usually be managed at home include a runny nose, sore throat, cough, aches and pains, headache, fever (high temperature) and tiredness.
If you have COVID-19 and are pregnant, have a chronic medical condition or are concerned at all, contact your GP — even if you have mild symptoms.
You should monitor moderate symptoms closely and seek medical advice if they get worse. These include needing to breathe more heavily while walking around your home, a fever above 38℃ that doesn’t respond to treatment and struggling to get out of bed.
Ask yourself these questions in the morning, afternoon and night. Can I get my own food? Can I drink water? Can I go to the toilet normally? Can I take my regular medication? If you answer ‘no’ to any of these questions, call your GP.
Severe symptoms include breathlessness at rest or being unable to speak in sentences, drowsiness and chest pains lasting more than 10 minutes. If you experience severe symptoms call triple zero (000) for an ambulance and tell the call handler you have COVID-19.
Got other COVID questions? Get COVID clarity
Use the COVID-19 Symptom Checker to find out if you need to seek medical help.
Call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080 at any time if you need advice.
