COVID-19 is most likely to spread from person-to-person through:

• close contact with a person while they are infectious or in the 24 hours before their symptoms appeared
• close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes
• 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.

All Australians are required to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to go outside. Australians are permitted to leave home for the essentials, such as:

• shopping for food
• exercising outdoors, avoiding contact with other people
• going out for medical needs
• providing care or support to another individual in a place other than your home
• going to work or study if you cannot do it from home.

Attending barbers and hairdressers is allowed, but the four square metre rule per person must be strictly observed and personal contact during the patron’s visit should be minimised where possible.

All international travel is banned. Domestic travel is to be avoided. When out of your home it is even more important to practise good hand and cough/sneeze hygiene and social distancing.

You should:
• wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
• cover your cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues and wash your hands
• avoid contact with others (stay more than 1.5 metres from people)
• exercise personal responsibility for social distancing measures.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to other colds and flus and include:
• fever
• sore throat
• cough
• tiredness
• difficulty breathing.

While coronavirus is of concern, it is important to remember that most people displaying these symptoms are likely suffering with a cold or other respiratory illness – not coronavirus.

If you believe you have been exposed to, or have COVID-19, you should phone the National Coronavirus Helpline (1800 020 080) for advice.

Practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene and keeping your distance from others when you are sick is the best defence against most viruses.

You should:
• wash your hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
• cover your cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser
• iavoid contact with others (stay more than 1.5 metres from people)
• you must stay at home if you are unwell
• exercise personal responsibility for social distancing measures.

Your doctor will tell you if you should be tested. They will arrange for the test. Generally you will be tested if you develop fever or respiratory symptoms and meet at least one the following criteria:

• you have returned from overseas in the past 14 days
• you have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 14 days
• you travelled on a cruise ship (either passenger or crew) in the 14 days before developing symptoms
• you are a health care, aged care or residential care worker
• you have lived in an area where there is a higher risk of community transmission, as defined by the local public health unit.

You should also be tested if you meet all of the following criteria:
• you are in hospital
• you have fever and serious respiratory symptoms
• there is no other clear cause of the symptoms

People in high-risk settings will be tested if there are 2 or more people with fever and respiratory symptoms in the setting.

For the latest advice, information and resources, go to: www.health.gov.au

Call the National Coronavirus Help Line on 1800 020 080. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450. The phone number of your state or territory public health agency is available at www.health.gov.au/state-territory-contacts

If you have concerns about your health, speak to your doctor