COVID-19 (Coronavirus) factsheet for patients and visitors
What is Coronavirus/COVID-19?
This coronavirus, known as COVID-19, causes illness of varying severity spanning common cold symptoms through to more serious respiratory illness.
Some people may barely notice they are sick at all while some may become very ill, very quickly. At present, those in Queensland who are confirmed cases of COVID-19 are being treated in hospital, which may be as ‘virtual patients’, or as more ‘traditional’ admissions to our hospitals.
Self-quarantine and self-isolation requirements are in place for some overseas and interstate travellers or those who may have been in close contact with a confirmed case, usually for a period of 14 days.
How is this Coronavirus spread?
The coronavirus is most likely to spread from person-to-person through:
- direct close contact with a person while they are infectious
- close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes, or
- touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face.
Most infections are only transmitted by people when they have symptoms, but can be transmitted for the 48 hours prior to symptoms developing. Symptoms can include fever, a cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell.
What should I do if I suspect I have COVID-19?
Those who suspect they might have COVID-19 should present for testing. Symptoms include:
- a fever or history of fever (e.g. night sweats, chills)
- acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat)
- loss of smell or taste
- or more rarely: fatigue, runny nose, muscle pain, joint pain, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting and loss of appetite.
Tests are available at Commonwealth Respiratory Clinics, Queensland Health Fever Clinics or at private laboratory collection centres upon referral by your GP.
You will be given a mask on arrival at testing locations.
Who is at risk of COVID-19?
Everyone should take steps to keep themselves and others safe, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, those most at risk of serious infection include:
- people with compromised immune systems (e.g. cancer)
- elderly people
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- people with diagnosed chronic medical conditions
- people in group residential settings
- people in detention facilities.
Am I safe attending Metro North facilities?
Metro North Hospital and Health Service is well-prepared to handle COVID-19 across our facilities. Patient and visitor safety is paramount.
Anyone being treated for COVID-19 within a healthcare facility will be in a designated area, with rigorous safety protocols observed.
Can I still visit Metro North facilities to see a loved one?
The information on our COVID-19 changes to visiting our hospitals page will help get you set up to make virtual visits.
You can find more information about this on the relevant facility visitor information page:
- Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
- The Prince Charles Hospital
- Redcliffe Hospital
- Caboolture Hospital
- Kilcoy Hospital
Should I reschedule my outpatient appointment?
You do not need to reschedule your outpatient appointment or elective surgery unless you have been contacted to do so.
Contact will be made directly with anyone who may need to move an appointment or to amend your appointment to a ‘virtual appointment’.
Where should I go for more information?
The Queensland Health website remains a central source of information for all members of the public. Information is continually updated on the QLD Health Coronavirus site.
The Federal Government website also contains helpful information for a range of groups on their Department of Health COVID-19 resources site.