As we enter cold and flu season, it’s important that we remain vigilant for symptoms of COVID-19 to keep ourselves and our community safe.
What to do if you test positive for COVID-19
Your first priority is your health and wellbeing. COVID-19 can be a serious illness. If your symptoms are severe or worsen, contact your GP or call the Department of Health hotline on 1800 675 398.
Reporting a positive test result
If you test positive for COVID-19 please let your manager know and complete our online COVID-19 Positive Notification Form. If you received a positive result using a RAT, you should notify the Department of Health using their COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form.
Isolating at home
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 you should isolate to prevent the spread of infection. The day you received a positive result is Day 0. You can return to work on Day 7 if you are free of symptoms.
Support and guidance
If you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have mild to moderate symptoms or you are a close contact, the Victorian Government’s Coronavirus portal is a useful resource. If you have concerns or questions, you can call the employee COVID-19 hotline on (03) 8572 5610.
What to do if you are symptomatic
If you have tested negative for COVID-19 and your symptoms are improving or completely recovered, you may be able to return to work.
You may return to work if you meet the following criteria:
- You have received a negative RAT
- Your symptoms are improving, or you are feeling better (no muscle aches and pains, no headache, improving cough, etc.)
- You have not experienced a fever in the past 24 hours
You must wear an N95 while on-site and have breaks alone until your symptoms are resolved.
If your RAT test returns a negative result, but your symptoms are not improving or worsening, do not attend work. Please take another RAT.
What to do if you are a close contact
You are a close contact if you have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility without appropriate PPE in place.
Healthcare workers who are close contacts and have no symptoms can attend work provided you:
- Notify your manager and complete the Monash Health Close Contact Form
- Undertake daily RAT testing for five days
- Wear an N95 while on-site and have breaks alone
Healthcare workers who are close contacts and have symptoms may return to work if you meet the following criteria:
- You have received a negative RAT
- Your symptoms are improving
- You have not experienced a fever in the past 24 hours
You must:
- Notify your manager and complete the Monash Health Close Contact Form
- Undertake daily RAT testing for five days
- Wear an N95 while on-site and have breaks alone.
If your RAT returns a negative result, but your symptoms are not improving or worsening, do not attend work. Please take another RAT.
After you complete the Monash Health Close Contact Form, our hotline team will be in touch with further instructions.
You can find the all the latest advice in our COVID-19 Fact Sheet.
Approved by Rhonda Stuart