Transcript of If I’m not feeling well should I get tested for COVID-19?

A conversation between Ella Darling from the Council for Intellectual Disability and Dr Jan Fizzell who is Senior Medical Advisor at NSW Health.

Ella: Do I need to get tested if I'm not feeling well?

Dr Jan: So COVID-19 is a really sneaky virus it likes to imitate so many other health conditions that generally if you are feeling unwell with a virus type of feeling, it's a good idea to get tested.

So that could be a runny nose, it could be that you can't taste or smell properly, so if you are used to drinking coffee the coffee doesn't quite taste right, you don't get that strong coffee taste. If you have a sore or scratchy throat that's a sign and it's a good idea to get tested or if you have a cough that is new to you then it's a good to get tested. The other thing is that sometimes when you get a viral illness you can feel blah and unwell and feel hot and cold that's another good time to get tested. But if you are ever worried, talking to your GP, even if you don't go into see them personally, but talk to them over the telephone or by a skype call or video conference, they can help guide you as to whether it's a good time to get tested or not.

Current as at: Friday 6 November 2020
Contact page owner: Health Protection NSW