Hey there everyone. It looks like there is a heavy surge of COVID-19 positive results in Australia recently. To control the situation the Government implemented new guidelines.

Updated testing and isolation guidelines, in a high caseload environment, will include:

Confirmed positive case

• Self-isolate for a minimum of seven days
• On day 7, if symptoms still present, continue isolating until symptoms clear
• If no symptoms after Day 7, you can leave self-isolation. No testing is required.

Close contact (asymptomatic or symptomatic)

• Self-isolate for a full seven days from the date of contact with the positive case;
• Take a PCR or RAT test on Day 1 or as soon as possible

• If positive – follow positive case guidelines (as above)
• If negative PCR – continue to isolate
• If negative RAT – continue to isolate and take another RAT in 24 hours

• If positive – follow positive case guidelines (as above)
• If negative – continue to isolate

Take a PCR test on day 6 or RAT on day 7:

• If positive – follow positive case guidelines (as above)
• If negative and no new household members have tested positive, you can leave isolation after day 7 and monitor for symptoms 
   

Symptomatic but not a close contact

• Get a PCR test immediately and isolation until result returned

• If positive – follow positive case guidelines (as above)
• If negative – you are not required to isolate but should stay home until symptoms clear.

If you take a RAT, because a PCR test is unavailable:

• If positive – follow positive case guidelines (as above)
• If negative – continue to isolate and repeat RAT in 24 hours – if negative after this follow-up test, you are not required to isolate but should stay home until symptoms clear.

To know about Australia’s vaccine mandates you can visit this link.

https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/is-it-true/is-it-true-are-covid-19-vaccines-mandatory-in-australia  

COVID 19 testing source: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/high-covid-caseload-settings-under-was-updated-transition-plan#close-contacts