So, you have COVID-19. Here’s exactly what you should do next.

3. What if I live in an apartment building?

If you live in an apartment building, you will need to make sure you stay away from others in the building by remaining inside you own apartment. This means you cannot use shared laundry facilities or any other common areas. 

If you need help removing rubbish from your apartment, ask a neighbour or contact your building manager to collect your rubbish by leaving it outside your door. However, no one else should help you do your laundry. 

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4. Who do I tell? 

Once you test positive for COVID-19, you need to let the people you've been in contact with know. This includes your household contacts, friends and family you caught up with, your employer and your child's school/childcare.

If you're struggling to find the right words, the Victorian Government has put together an example message to send to social contacts.

When you tell your manager at work or your child's school/childcare, let them know the following information: 

• The date you got tested 
• When you got sick and if you had symptoms
• The days you were at work or the education facility in the two-day period before you got sick or two days before your test if you have no symptoms.

You should also tell anyone you spent 15 minutes or more with in an indoor environment without a mask, from two days before you got sick until the present or from two days before your test until the present, if you have no symptoms. 

The people you've come into contact with should get tested immediately, self-isolate and follow the advice from their state or territory health department. Some may be deemed close contacts, depending on where you live. 

5. How do I get supplies?

While in isolation you may be worried about running out of food or other important supplies. However, there are a number of ways for you to access the essentials. 

You can ask your family or friends who do not live with you to help pick up groceries or medication and leave them on your doorstep. Once they have left, put on a mask and open the door to collect your supplies. 

You can also order food and groceries to be delivered online. 

For medication, call your preferred pharmacy to see if they can arrange a home delivery for you. 

Different states and territories also offer support. In New South Wales, if you need help to access food or essentials, call the NSW Health Isolation Support Line on 1800 943 553. 

In Victoria, basic food items can be provided through an Emergency Relief package by calling the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. 

6. Do I need to get another test before I leave isolation? 

Whether or not you need to get another test to leave isolation will depend on your state's health advice. 

In South Australia, the rules are simple, "After your initial positive test, you will not be required to have additional tests or a clearance test".

Meanwhile, ACT Health state that generally, no further COVID-19 tests will be required to leave isolation.

In Tasmania, the government says most people won't need to do a test before being leaving isolation as long as you don't have any symptoms and you have been in isolation for the required time. However, Public Health may ask you to be tested again if you are significantly immunocompromised or have continuing symptoms.

New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia don't specify on their health department website if further testing is required. Instead, they say you can leave isolation when you are medically cleared by a medical practitioner or the health department. 

In Victoria, most people are not required to get tested again after isolating for 7 days. 

Those who are urged to get tested include individuals who have a weakened immune system and are immunocompromised, those who have continuing symptoms or were hospitalised with COVID-19. Those who have had a more infectious strain of COVID-19 are also urged to re-test.

In the Northern Territory, the NT Centre for Disease Control will let you know next steps for isolation and treatment.

7. What should I do if my symptoms get worse during isolation?

If your symptoms worsen while in isolation the advice is to call a doctor. 

However, if it's an emergency, or you are having severe headaches or dizziness, difficulty breathing or have pain in your chest, call triple Zero (000) straight away. You should also let the ambulance staff know that you are currently isolating with COVID-19.