Close contact information
If you have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you are at an increased risk of getting COVID-19. Close contact includes living with or having spent a lot of time indoors with someone with COVID-19.
People with COVID-19 are considered infectious two days before their symptoms started, or two days before their positive COVID-19 test was taken if they have no noticeable symptoms.
If you are a close contact, there are important things you can do to reduce the risk to others:
- Monitor for symptoms. If you get sick you should get tested and stay at home until you are well.
- Don’t visit people at high risk of severe illness, or anyone in a hospital, or an aged or disability care facility. If you have to visit, do a rapid antigen test before you go.
- Wear a mask when in indoor places and on public transport.
- Frequent rapid antigen testing to help identify an infection early. This is particularly important if you are in contact with people at high risk of severe illness.
- Notify your employer, school or childcare setting that you are a close contact.
Following these close contact guidelines for at least 7 days will help to protect our community, in particular people at risk or with health vulnerabilities, while you are potentially infectious.