The recording of the most recent RACGP NSW and ACT and NSW Health webinar is available at NSW COVID-19 update webinar - Wednesday 27 May 2020.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Please contact your Primary Health Network for access to masks.

• Infection prevention and control in primary care and community care
• Guidance on mask use
• Guidance on donning P2 masks

Testing

If taking samples yourself, use standard, contact and droplet transmission precautions when managing suspected cases and taking specimens: long sleeved gown, gloves, protective eyewear/face shield and a surgical mask.

Patients whose illness is severe enough to consider hospital admission should be referred directly to a COVID-19 clinic.

There is no requirement to call the Public Health Unit before referring a patient for a test but they can provide additional advice or assistance if needed (1300 066 055).

• Current testing criteria
• Private pathology labs available for testing
• COVID-19 clinics available across the state

Self-isolation

Self-isolation at home for 14 days is required for:

• Close contacts of confirmed cases
• Suspected cases
• Confirmed cases who do not require hospitalisation.

From 29 March 2020, all travellers arriving in Australia from overseas are required to undertake their mandatory 14 day self-isolation at designated facilities (for example, a hotel).

Case and close contact definitions

Please refer to the most recent CDNA guidelines for current definitions of cases and close contacts.

Further resources

Commonwealth Department of Health are providing regular updates to GPs.

There are a number of COVID-19 resources for health professionals on the NSW Health website (e.g. posters, factsheets, in-language information).​​​​