COVID-19

13-minute read

If you feel short of breath or have chest pain, call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance. Tell the operator if you have COVID-19.

Key facts

COVID-19 is the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
COVID-19 can affect anyone. But it's more serious for older people, pregnant females and people with underlying medical conditions.
Most people with COVID-19 only get mild symptoms but some people can become very unwell.
Wearing a face mask, practising good hygiene and maintaining physical distance from others where possible helps to protect against COVID-19.
Getting the COVID-19 vaccination helps to protect you against getting severe disease.

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the virus called 'severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2' (SARS-CoV-2). It's a type of coronavirus.

COVID-19 is a very contagious illness that can affect anyone. Some people get better easily, while others become very sick.

COVID-19 can be especially serious for:

older people
people with underlying medical conditions
pregnant females

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

If you feel short of breath or have chest pain, call triple zero (000) immediately and ask for an ambulance. Tell the operator if you have COVID-19.

Most people with COVID-19 only get mild, cold-like symptoms.

Common symptoms include:

Other symptoms include:

fatigue (tiredness)
muscle pains
sore throat
headaches
runny nose, blocked nose or sneezing
chest pain or chest tightness
dizziness or confusion

Other symptoms related to your stomach or bowel (gastrointestinal) include:

Some people have no symptoms at all. This is known as being asymptomatic.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

Who is at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19?

You have a higher chance of getting very sick with COVID-19 if you have other diseases or conditions. The most common conditions that can increase your chance of severe COVID-19 are:

hypertension (high blood pressure), especially if it's not well controlled
obesity
diabetes

Other health conditions that can increase your risk are:

some cancers (diagnosed in the past 5 years)
some chronic (ongoing) inflammatory conditions
chronic kidney failure or chronic liver disease
chronic lung disease — such as moderate or severe asthma
heart disease — coronary heart disease or heart failure
some neurological conditions — such as stroke or dementia
severe mental health conditions

You are also more likely to become very sick from COVID-19 if you are:

70 years of age or older
50 years of age or older with 2 health conditions or more
an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, 30 years of age or older, with one health condition
18 years of age or older and have immune system problems or take immunosuppressant medicines

Other risk factors include:

living in a rural or remote area with limited access to doctors and hospitals
living in a residential aged care facility
having a complex disability
being pregnant

What causes COVID-19?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19. Researchers have identified many variants (types) of SARS-CoV-2 since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

In most people, the virus infects the cells lining your upper airway (your nose and throat). This causes mild to moderate disease.

If you get very sick from COVID-19, it's usually because you get an infection of your lower respiratory tract (your lungs). This can lead to pneumonia.

How is COVID-19 spread between people?

COVID-19 spreads from person to person by respiratory droplets or small airborne particles. You release droplets from your body when you:

cough
sneeze
talk

How long am I infectious for?

You are generally considered infectious from 48 hours before your symptoms started or from testing positive if you have no symptoms. You may still be infectious for as long as you have symptoms, like fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose and sore throat. This may last for up to 10 days. When you are infectious, you can spread (infect) COVID-19 to other people. Even if you have no symptoms, you can still infect others.

When should I see my doctor?

It's important to see your doctor if you have COVID-19 and you are at greater risk of getting very unwell (see below).

When to seek urgent care

Ask for an urgent doctor's appointment if:

your symptoms are getting worse
you're not getting better
you have other signs of illness, such as a rash, loss of appetite or feeling weak
you have had a high temperature for 5 days or more, or your temperature doesn't reduce by taking paracetamol

When should my child see the doctor?

It's rare for children to get very sick from COVID-19. Most children will have no symptoms or mild symptoms. If you are worried about your child's symptoms, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Ask for an urgent doctor's appointment if:

your child's symptoms are getting worse or are not getting better
your child has other signs of illness, such as a rash, loss of appetite or feeling weak
your child has a high temperature for 5 days or more, or paracetamol does not reduce their temperature
your child is aged 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39°C or higher
you think your child has a high temperature

If you have a baby under 3 months old with a fever above 38°C, take them to the nearest hospital emergency department immediately.

When to call an ambulance

Call 000 for an ambulance if you have severe symptoms, such as:

difficulty breathing, or blue lips or face
pain or pressure in your chest
cold and clammy skin, or pale and mottled skin
fainting or collapsing
being confused or having difficultly waking up
little or no urine (wee)
coughing up blood

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

How is COVID-19 diagnosed?

There are 2 types of tests that can show if you have the COVID-19 virus:

rapid antigen tests (RATs)
polymerase chain reaction tests (PCR or RT-PCR)

You should test if you have any symptoms of COVID-19. You can do a RAT at home. Pharmacies, supermarkets and some petrol stations sell RATs.

To get a PCR test, you will need to see your doctor. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and may examine you.

What to do if you test positive

Staying at home stops you from passing the COVID-19 virus on to people outside of your household. Stay home from work and keep children at home and away from school or childcare while you are unwell.

To help protect those around you, try to:

work from home where possible
practise good hygiene and hand washing
wear a mask if you must leave your home
avoid going to public places
avoid travelling on public transport and using taxis and ride-share services
avoid contact with people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19
follow the advice of your local state and territory health department

If you have COVID-19, you should not visit hospitals, aged care facilities and disability care places for at least 7 days or until your symptoms have gone.

If you have a healthcare appointment that you cannot miss, let the service know in advance that you have COVID-19.

How is COVID-19 treated?

Treatment for COVID-19 will depend on your symptoms and how unwell you are.

Self-care at home

Self-care measures include:

getting lots of rest
drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your urine should be pale yellow)
having a teaspoon of honey if you have a cough — but do not give honey to babies under 12 months of age

You can still do moderate exercise if you feel well enough.

Medicines for COVID-19

You can manage mild symptoms with over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

There are 2 antiviral treatments available for the treatment of COVID-19:

nirmatrelvir and ritonavir (Paxlovid)
molnupiravir (Lagevrio)

You can get antiviral treatment if you are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. To find out if you are eligible for antiviral treatment, see eligibility for oral COVID-19 treatments.

COVID-19 antivirals are taken as capsules or tablets. They help stop COVID-19 infections from becoming severe.

Antiviral treatments for COVID-19 aren't safe to take if you:

are pregnant or breastfeeding
have severe kidney disease — you should not take Paxlovid
have liver disease — you should not take Paxlovid

Oral antiviral treatments may affect how the contraceptive pill works. You should use a different type of contraception while taking COVID-19 antiviral treatments.

It's advised that females use other forms of contraception during treatment and for:

4 days after taking Lagevrio
7 days after taking Paxlovid

Males should also use contraception during treatment and for 3 months after taking Lagevrio.

For more, read the Consumer Medicine Information for your treatment. You can also talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what is best for you.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist.

What are the complications of COVID-19?

Most people who get COVID-19 recover completely. But some people develop long COVID.

Sometimes, long COVID symptoms can last for months.

Complications of severe COVID-19 can be life-threatening. You will need hospital treatment if you have severe disease or complications.

Can COVID-19 be prevented?

COVID-19 vaccines are effective at lowering your chance of getting very sick from COVID-19. The best protection against COVID-19 is to stay up to date with your vaccinations.

If you need help finding a COVID-19 vaccine clinic, use our online guided search feature.

You can also help protect yourself and those around you from the virus that causes COVID-19 by: