BY DR REBECCA LEVY, MANLY VILLAGE MEDICAL
So you’ve just tested positive for Covid, or someone who lives with you has. Now what?
Being prepared reduces anxiety and makes a difficult situation easier. Many, if not all of us, will be facing this situation over the coming months.
- Keep calm and isolate, for a minimum of seven days. Make arrangements for groceries and medications to be dropped off outside your door. If you don’t have anyone to assist with this, you can call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 to arrange non-contact delivery as well as social support.
- Notify people with whom you’ve been in recent contact.
- Plan for who can look after your children, pets, or people in your care, if you have to go to hospital.
- Look after yourself – plenty of rest, fluids (non-alcoholic), and fresh air and sunshine in your own backyard if possible. Given many people’s diets are lacking in vitamins, it’s advisable to take vitamin C, vitamin D and zinc.
- Monitor your symptoms with a diary – check your temperature twice daily, and learn how to check your own pulse and breathing rate. If you can, get a pulse oximeter to measure your oxygen levels.
- Check in by phone with your doctor – if your symptoms are worse than a regular cold, or if you have risk factors for severe illness, ring your GP, or your local respiratory clinic. They will be able to advise you if any other medication is needed.
For more information scan the QR codes below:
https://www.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/230608/A4L_Symptoms-diary_23-12-21-INTERACTIVE.pdf
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/stay-informed/i-have-covid
https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/media/documents/Clinical%20Resources/Guidelines/Managing-mild-COVID-19-at-home-with-assistance-from-your-GP.pdf
