Information for health professionals

📌 This page was last updated on 20 December 2023

Communication with ACT Public Health

Notification to Communicable Disease Control, ACT Health

Confirmed PCR positive COVID-19 cases are automatically notified to Communicable Disease Control (CDC) at ACT Health.

COVID-19 vaccination program in the ACT

Refer to information for clinicians in the ACT on COVID-19 vaccine information for ACT clinicians

COVID-19 and other respiratory virus testing

Testing for COVID-19 in people who have COVID-19 symptoms continues to be an important COVID Smart Behaviour. Testing can be done with either a RAT or PCR.

For most people, RATs are the easiest and fastest way to get diagnosed with COVID-19.

However, some people may benefit from PCR testing, including:

  • those who are at higher risk of a severe COVID-19 illness. These people may be eligible for antiviral medication and PCR testing may provide a positive result earlier in their illness. People who are at higher risk of severe disease can still use a RAT to test for COVID-19, and a positive RAT result is sufficient to prescribe COVID-19 antivirals.
  • others who are recommended to have a PCR test by their GP or treating doctor (e.g., those who are unable to use a RAT).

ACT Health continues to encourage people to have a discussion with their general practitioner or other treating doctors about what COVID-19 testing and treatment they may need before they become unwell, especially if they are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness.

COVID-19 PCR testing can be accessed at pathology centres across Canberra with a pathology form from a general practitioner or nurse practitioner.

Testing of asymptomatic individuals is not generally recommended unless a person is a household contact and entering a high risk setting or having close contact with a person at high risk of severe disease. These people can use a RAT. Testing advice for contacts can be found on the information for people exposed to COVID-19 page.

Repeat testing of cases

After having returned their initial positive test, active cases of COVID-19 do not need additional COVID tests unless the doctor is advised to do so by the Infectious Diseases unit at Canberra/Calvary hospitals or by a Public Health Medical Officer. This includes people who have tested positive on a RAT.

Respiratory virus testing advice

Respiratory virus testing (other than COVID-19 testing) at any centre will not occur without a valid pathology referral form. Adequate clinical information on referral forms will assist laboratories to prioritise testing at times when capacity is under strain.

Guidance on respiratory testing to support laboratory testing capacity has been developed.

Please remember to put adequate clinical information on pathology request forms.

Specimen collection

Testing of recovered cases

Most people who have recovered from COVID-19 do not need to have testing performed in the first 35 days (5 weeks) following their initial positive test.

In the 35 days following a positive COVID-19 test, a recovered person who has developed new COVID-19 symptoms could be considered for repeat COVID-19 testing in specific circumstances:

  • when the person is at higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness, high-risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and a positive result will change your clinical management
  • when the person is moderate to severely immunocompromised
    • Someone with significant immunocompromise may not form antibodies in response to infection or vaccination and may be at ongoing risk of reinfection.
    • Decisions about reinfection and appropriate treatment in this situation are complex and an ID physician should be consulted.
    • The decision may involve the clinical history of the current and previous episode, any possible exposures, and interpretation of the PCR values by a microbiologist.
    • In certain instances, repeat PCR testing may be necessary to determine a trajectory of results.

If you ask the person to do a COVID-19 test within 35 days of a positive test from a previous COVID-19 infection:

  • provide additional details on the request form
  • advise the person that in this situation, a positive result within 35 days of their previous positive test result may not trigger additional messaging from ACT health.

This advice may change over time. Please refer to HealthPathways for additional information.

People who have respiratory symptoms should always be advised to stay at home until symptoms resolve to reduce the spread of disease, even if testing is not advised.

COVID-19 testing for patients who have received a COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination does not affect PCR or RAT results.

Patients who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 are recommended to be tested for COVID-19 if they develop symptoms.

In the initial post-vaccine period, patients are recommended to be tested if they develop:

  • respiratory symptoms such as sore throat, cough, runny or blocked nose, loss of taste or smell, or breathlessness (these symptoms are unlikely to be caused by the COVID-19 vaccine)
  • other symptoms including fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain, chills or fever, in the absence of respiratory symptoms, that are severe, or last longer than 48 hours after vaccination
  • a fever more than 48 hours after vaccination (these patients are recommended to stay at home whilst they have a fever).

If patients present with symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination, consider whether they meet the criteria for a notifiable adverse event following immunisation (AEFI) and report accordingly.

Further information on reporting an AEFI in the ACT is available here.

COVID-19 serology

Rapid antigen testing (RAT) or nucleic acid testing using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) are the methods of choice to detect SARS-CoV-2 during the acute illness.

Serology does not have a role in the diagnosis of acute COVID-19 infection.

Please consult with ACT Health prior to requesting COVID-19 serology for patients.

To date, there are no serological assays that provide a definitive correlation of immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

Routine diagnostic serological testing post-vaccination is therefore not recommended.

All positive COVID-19 serology results are notified to ACT Health and require public health follow-up.

Public health follow-up may include requiring:

  • a COVID-19 nose/throat PCR swab, and/or
  • further serology.

Please inform your patient of this prior to ordering COVID-19 serology.

Clinical care of someone with COVID-19

Please see COVID-19 - Community Health Pathways ACT and SNSW, the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Clinical Care Guidelines and the Australian guidelines for the clinical care of people with COVID-19 for guidance on how to care for someone with COVID-19, including information regarding antiviral prescription and pathways to escalate care in people of concern.

COVID-19 treatments

Oral antivirals for COVID-19

Oral antivirals for the treatment of COVID-19 are available for eligible people on the PBS.

These oral antivirals should be started as soon as possible after a diagnosis of COVID-19.

Eligible patients can access these medications from their local community pharmacy on a prescription from their doctor.

For information on pharmacies that are stocking antivirals please visit the Find a Pharmacy website.

Useful resources

Inhaled Corticosteroids

The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce (NCCET) guidance suggests inhaled corticosteroids (budesonide and ciclesonide) may be of benefit for the treatment of COVID-19 within 14 days of symptom onset in adults who do not require oxygen and have one or more risk factors for disease progression. Please review NCCET guidance for further details.

Intravenous antivirals

There are intravenous antiviral treatments available that can be of benefit to people at the greatest risk of progressing to severe disease, or who may require hospitalisation.

Please contact ACT COVID Care@Home to discuss assessment and treatment.

Please see Health Pathways for further information about eligibility and access in the ACT.

The NCCET pathways to care for adults with COVID-19 can assist with risk stratification.

ACT COVID Care@Home Program

The COVID Care@Home Program is an outpatient monitoring service supporting patients at home with COVID-19.

It is staffed by registered nurses who can provide advice on COVID-19 symptom management and, where necessary, support patients to engage with their usual GP, CALMS and/or Healtdirect (if out of hours or on weekends).

COVID-19 positive patients can self-enrol in the program by calling the COVID Care@Home team on 02 5124 3085.

Recovery from COVID-19 and Post-COVID-19 conditions

Information on assessment, management and referral of patients with post-COVID-19 illness in the ACT is available on the Health Pathways Post-COVID-19 illness website.

Post-COVID-19 conditions resources

COVID-19 exposures in the workplace

General principles for preventing and managing exposure in a healthcare setting

  • Request household contacts who are patients to have a telehealth appointment or delay their appointment where clinically possible.
  • Request household contacts who are patients and unable to undertake telehealth appointments to return a negative RAT result prior to attending their face-to-face appointment
  • Use risk mitigation strategies for household or higher-risk contacts who are staff members (see staff return to work advice below).
  • Maintain entry screening for symptoms and exposures
  • Minimise COVID-19 exposure risk within the workplace (staff and visitors) by:
    • using PPE appropriate to the risk in your setting
    • setting a mask policy for your facility appropriate to the risk
    • minimising the length of time spent in the clinic
    • reducing staff exposure to each other, for example staggering lunch breaks, physical distancing or tea room use and online meetings.
  • Ensuring business continuity plans are in place including:
    • plans to replace staff who are unable to work
    • ensuring systems that allow work from home when required
    • regular cleaning.

In all situations, COVID Smart practices should be followed, with appropriate PPE use, cleaning, hand hygiene and physical distancing.

Staff with any symptoms of COVID-19, even if mild, should not attend work. They should get tested for COVID-19 and stay at home until they receive a negative result AND their symptoms have resolved.

The PPE advice from the national infection control expert group can be found on the Department of Health website. Donning and doffing personal protective equipment (PPE) poster.

Exposures in high-risk community sites (non-hospital)

High-risk community sites include:

  • residential aged care facilities
  • residential disability care facilities

These facilities have the same risk assessment and return to work guidance as other community healthcare sites, which can be found below.

Exposures in community-based healthcare settings

Community-based healthcare settings include the following:

  • general practices
  • other non-GP private medical practices
  • pharmacies
  • dental surgeries
  • allied health services including but not limited to optometrists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and dietitians
  • home visits/domiciliary healthcare

People who are recommended against visiting high-risk facilities are not excluded from visiting community-based healthcare settings.

Tools for COVID-19 exposures

Guidance is available below for facilities/workplaces when there has been staff exposure to a COVID-19 case while at work. These apply to clinical and non-clinical staff as well as residents/clients.

Staff identified as household contacts from non-work exposures may also follow the return-to-work advice.

This risk assessment matrix and return to work advice may be updated over time so please refer to the website for the most up to date version.

Notification of contacts

Community health setting facilities are requested to notify staff, residents, and visitors if they have been identified as higher-risk contacts and advise them to follow ACT health advice for people exposed to COVID-19.

Cleaning of premises

Areas used by any suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 should be cleaned and disinfected according to appropriate cleaning protocols Coronavirus (COVID-19) Environmental cleaning and disinfection principles for health and residential care facilities advice.

Appropriate PPE should be worn when cleaning. This includes surgical mask, gloves, eye protection and long sleeve impermeable gown, with appropriate donning and doffing protocols.

Returning to work in a community health setting

Clients or staff wishing to attend a community healthcare setting after recovering from COVID-19 should wait until their symptoms are gone or they are feeling much better.

People who have tested positive to COVID-19 should avoid contact with people at higher risk of severe illness for at least 7 days.

Cases with ongoing symptoms post recovery may attend a community healthcare setting with the agreement of the business and with appropriate risk mitigation strategies in place.

The business may consider a range of factors when allowing in person attendance including:

  • workforce shortages
  • ability for staff members to work from home
  • ability for clients to access care via telehealth
  • the ability to mitigate risk to other staff and clients.

Epidemiological updates

Please see COVID-19 statistics for updates on COVID-19 cases in the ACT.

Useful links

acknowledgement icon
Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

Last Updated: March 18 2024