Australians no longer have to isolate when they have COVID-19 but, with cases rising as new variants emerge and vaccination coverage wanes, different states have different recommendations about what to do if you are infected.
Mandatory isolation ended on October 14 across the nation — but public health authorities have warned of another COVID-19 wave over the coming weeks and into summer.
"We're definitely in that wave," South Australia's Chief Public Health Officer, Nicola Spurrier, said on Saturday.
"Because we don't have as many people testing anymore, our cases may not look as high, even though we'll have more infections in our community."
Professor Spurrier urged the public to "take COVID-safe behaviours now", and recommended fourth shots for those eligible.
If you test positive for COVID-19 from now on, here is what each state and territory currently recommends that you do.
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Western Australia
- Australian Capital Territory
- Northern Territory
- What about vaccinations?
NSW
NSW Health strongly recommends that people who are sick or have tested positive to COVID-19 stay at home until their symptoms have gone, or for at least seven days if you work in high-risk settings such as health, disability and aged care.
It says not to visit people at high risk of severe illness, anyone in hospital or an aged or disability care facility for at least a week.
If you must leave your home, wear a mask when indoors and on public transport.
Avoid large gatherings and indoor crowded places, especially where you will be in contact with groups of people you do not live with.
NSW Health recommends positive RAT results be registered with Service NSW, although it is not compulsory.
NSW considers your risk of exposure to COVID-19 as high if you live with someone who is infected, you have spent a long time with a person with COVID-19, or you have interacted closely with someone with the virus while not wearing a mask.
Victoria
Victoria's Department of Health recommends you isolate for at least five days and until you do not have symptoms anymore, including by not going to work, school or grocery shopping.
It says people should not in work or visit high-risk settings like hospitals, aged care, and disability services.
For at least seven days after testing positive, wear a face mask if you need to leave home in an emergency.
Positive RAT results should be reported with the Department of Health online or by calling 1800 675 398.
A close contact is anyone you live with or have stayed the night with at their house, plus anyone you have spent more than four hours indoors with at a house or other residence.
Queensland
Queensland Health strongly recommends that you stay and home and isolate if you have tested positive to COVID-19 within the previous seven days or have any symptoms of acute respiratory infection.
It says home isolation should end when your symptoms substantially reduce and you have gone for at least 24 hours without a fever.
It also recommends wearing a face mask if you are in an indoor setting outside the home and avoiding contact with people who are at higher risk of severe disease.
Positive RAT results should be reported online.
You are considered a close contact if you live with a person who has COVID-19, or have been with a person who has COVID-19 for more than four hours in a house or other accommodation.
South Australia
SA Health encourages anyone with COVID-19 symptoms to get tested and stay at home until symptoms have cleared, which, it says, usually takes five to seven days.
If you are COVID-19 positive and you must leave the house, SA Health strongly recommends you wear a mask, especially when indoors or on public transport, and that you do not attend large gatherings and crowded indoor places.
For at least seven days, you should avoid people at high risk of severe illness, or anyone in a hospital, aged or disability care facility.
You must report a positive RAT result online with SA Health.
Close contacts include people you live with or have spent a lot of time with indoors.
Tasmania
Tasmania's Department of Health does not recommend a set number of days for self-isolation, but says you may be infectious for up to 10 days.
It recommends that you stay home until your acute symptoms have resolved.
If you must leave the house, wear a mask when indoors and on public transport and avoid large gatherings and indoor crowded places for at least seven days.
Do not visit people at high risk of severe illness, anyone in hospital, or in an aged or disability care facility for at least seven days.
The health department also says you should contact your usual GP or healthcare provider if you test positive to COVID-19.
If you do not have a regular GP, call the COVID@homeplus care team on 1800 973 363.
Positive RAT results should be reported online.
Close contacts are considered to be people you live with or spend a lot of time indoors with.
Western Australia
Western Australia's Department of the Premier and Cabinet says you should stay home if you have COVID-19 until your symptoms have resolved.
It says you should not visit or work in high-risk settings, including hospitals, disability, mental health and aged care residential facilities and other healthcare settings, for seven days after you test positive.
You should record your positive RAT test result with the Department of Health.
A close contact is a household or household-like contact, or intimate partner of a person with COVID-19, who has had contact with them during their infectious period.
ACT
ACT Health recommends you stay at home and minimise your contact with others until your COVID-19 symptoms have gone and you are feeling much better.
If you must leave the house, ACT Health recommends you wear a mask when in indoor spaces and on public transport, and avoid attending large gatherings or crowded indoor places.
Do not attend high-risk settings, like hospitals, aged or disability care facilities, or visit people at higher risk of severe illness for at least seven days.
If you test positive on a RAT, you must register your positive result online, after which you will be contacted by ACT Health by phone, text or email.
ACT Health says you should tell the people who live with you that you have COVID-19.
Northern Territory
NT Health says it is your responsibility, following a positive COVID-19 test, to stay at home while you feel unwell and show symptoms.
It says you should maintain a distance of 1.5 metres away from others where possible, wear a mask indoors and outdoors when social distancing is not possible, and avoid visiting people at high risk of severe illness, people in hospital, aged care or disability facilities for at least seven days.
People who test positive need to declare their positive result online until November 11.
The NT does not define what a close contact is.
Should I get a fourth COVID-19 vaccination dose?
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends people aged 50 to 64 years old receive a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
"There's a lot of people out there who could have that fourth dose, and it'd be really helpful at the moment," Professor Nicola Spurrier said.
Adults aged between 30 and 49 are also eligible to receive a winter booster.
People aged 5 or older who are severely immunocompromised should get a fourth dose three months after their third dose.
The recommended gap between a coronavirus infection and a booster vaccine is now three months.
People aged 16 and over need to have had three doses to maintain an "up to date" status.
Children aged five to 15 can only get two doses.
