COVID-19 positive staff

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I have been diagnosed with COVID-19. What do I do now?

You should return home and immediately isolate yourself from others.
You should notify your line manager.
If you undertook a RAT test which indicated your COVID-19 positive result, you need to report it to Queensland Health at qld.gov.au/rat-positive. (positive PCR results are forwarded by Pathology providers to Queensland Health separately – no action required to report this result to Queensland Health).
You should advise your household members that you have COVID-19. Your household members are regarded as close contacts and should also quarantine, monitor for symptoms, and take a RAT if they have symptoms.
You will need to isolate for a minimum of seven days.
If you are experiencing mild symptoms, go to I have COVID-19 | Health and wellbeing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au) and follow the advice provided. If you are well or only have mild symptoms, you will be cared for at home. For health advice, please call your GP. If you don’t have a GP, you can call 13 HEALTH (134 325).
You should only call Triple Zero (000) or go to the hospital if you have severe symptoms. Most people who get COVID-19 will have only mild symptoms and will be able to recover at home.

Do I need to have any more tests?

No. You do not need to have any other tests. A positive RAT does not need to be confirmed by a PCR.
You can return to work without a test, once your symptoms have cleared, on Day 8.

When can I return to work?

Release from isolation details can be found here.The isolation period for confirmed cases of COVID-19:
- starts from the date they took the test that returned a positive result
- finishes at the end of:
  - seven days (since the date they took the test that returned a positive result) and they have not had symptoms for the last 48 hours (or if the only remaining symptom is a very mild dry cough which is persistent but not getting worse)
OR
- 10 days (since the date they took the test that returned a positive result) if on Day 7 of isolation they had fever and acute respiratory symptoms.

I have had COVID-19 and meet criteria to return to work but someone else in my household has now tested positive? Do I have to quarantine as a close contact again?

No. You can be released from isolation according to your own criteria as listed above. You are not a close contact as you have already had COVID-19 and recovered from that infection.
Please pay careful attention to hand hygiene as you leave the household.
If you have a different or new exposure to COVID-19, these rules may not apply.

Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) Kits

Where can I get RAT kits from?

RAT kit packs are available for Metro North Health staff and their immediate family to comply with the requirements of the following Health Direction: Management of Diagnosed Cases of COVID-19 and Close Contacts Direction (No. 3) | Queensland Health

In the first instance your line manager will be able to advise how you can access RAT kits.

Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR test)

Where can I get a PCR test done?

A full list of COVID-19 testing services open to the public is updated daily and can be found here

Where can I find further information?

Information for staff who are close contacts can be found here.

Information about critically essential worker pathway can be found here.

Information for staff who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 can be found here.

Health advice can be obtained from your GP or 13 HEALTH (134 325).

Staff can call the HR hotline on 07 3646 5500 between 8am and 5pm seven days. The hotline offers clinical advice on returning to work and HR advice about leave entitlements for staff who are COVID positive or a close contact.