About COVID-19

Information about COVID-19, symptoms and testing

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus.

When people contract the virus, they can experience a mild illness, or they can become very unwell and require medical care in hospital. Some people will recover easily, and others may become very sick, very quickly.

What are the symptoms?

People with COVID-19 may experience:

An image showing 3 common symptoms of COVID. a person coughing, a person who is very warm and running a fever and a person who is experiencing shortness of breath

How is COVID-19 spread?

When someone who has COVID-19 coughs or exhales they release droplets of infected fluid. Most of these droplets fall on nearby surfaces and objects - such as desks, tables or telephones.
People could catch COVID-19 by touching these contaminated surfaces or objects – and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.
If you are standing within one metre of a person with COVID-19 you can catch it by breathing in droplets coughed out or exhaled by them. In other words, COVID-19 spreads in a similar way to flu.

How can I protect myself?

There are a number of ways you can protect yourself including:

A diagram displaying how you can protect yourself. Wash your hands frequently, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Cough or sneeze into a flexed elbow or tissue, avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.

a diagram displaying how to protect yourself against COVID19- avoid close contact with people who are sick, sneezing or coughing. Stay home when you are ill Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people frequently touch.

Only wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms or are caring for someone who does.

*This infographic is attributed and comes from the Johns Hopkins Center for Systems Science and Engineering.

FAQs

The National Disability Insurance Scheme has a full directory of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that are updated daily. You can find answers to commonly asked questions below.

Visit: NDIS - FAQs: ndis.gov.au

Easy English resources are available here.

Testing for COVID-19

To stop the spread of COVID-19 people with even mild symptoms of respiratory infection should get tested.

If you are unwell:

Use the symptom checker
Get tested
For more information call the National Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccination Helpline on 1800 020 080. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

People with disability can get tested for COVID-19 at home. This is called the Call-to-Test service.

Carers of people with disability can also use the service.

To access the Call-to-Test service call the Victorian COVID-19 hotline on 1800 675 398 and select option 9.

Easy English resources

Resources for children

"The Sneeze Song" by Colleen Charles.

Contacts

If you have a specific question or need to speak to Yooralla directly, please contact us.