Healthy spacing (aka social distancing)

Is another way of saying what the photo above shows — we need to keep a healthy space between us and the people around us if we are to slow down the spread of this infection

Is an act of respect and love for those nearby

To the best of your ability, you MUST enact it

No hand-shakes, hugs, fist bumps, high 5’s or kisses

Time to enact the elbow bump!

Just for now

It will help keep you safe by reducing the spreading of germs, be they cold, flu or Covid-19

For more of our thoughts on creating healthy spaces, click here

Two weeks quarantine for everyone returning to Australia and New Zealand from overseas from March 16, 2020

What does that mean?

Now, review the definitions above. Quarantine = you are at higher risk, you don’t actually have the infection and you may or may not get it. You are not in isolation

This is an important distinction and quarantine and isolation are being confused by too many commentators

From March 20, quarantine for overseas travellers is being enforced, with hotel accommodation and meals arranged by State Governments but paid for by most travellers from July 18

Quarantine restrictions

Vary from state to state and nation to nation

Here in Australia, there are a number of restrictions for inter and intrastate travel

Travel is still limited in some areas

Please check BEFORE setting out

Regulations are changing in response to the falling numbers of infection

Travel ONLY to areas that have low case numbers AND if you are coming from an area with low case numbers

RESPECT our rural and remote communities they are ready to welcome you again, but keep in mind they have limited medical services

RESPECT our First Nations communities check first before travelling, some are still closed



I’ve been in isolation due to having Covid-19 infection, when can I leave the house?

As of March 21, 2020, the Australian Government has said:

You can come out of self-isolation (you have not been in hospital) IF:

It is at least 10 days since you became unwell AND

You have been completely well (no symptoms of acute illness) for three days

If you were isolated (i.e. you were in hospital), you can come out of self-isolation IF:

It is at least 10 days since you were sent home from hospital AND

You have been completely well ( no symptoms of acute illness) for three days

If, at or prior to discharge, you have had two consecutive swabs taken at least 24 hours apart which are negative for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR, then you can be discharged from hospital and you don’t have to go into self-isolation for 10 days

If you are a healthcare or aged care worker, you must meet different criteria

You must have had no fever for the previous 48 hours

It must be at least 7 days since you became unwell AND

You have been completely well ( no symptoms of acute illness) for 24 hours AND

You must have at least two consecutive PCR tests which are negative, taken 24 hours apart, AFTER you have recovered

Once you have recovered, you don’t need to have follow up testing unless you get sick again

We don’t know if you are now immune to COVID-19 and if so, how long the immunity will last, so please keep your distance from others, keep washing your hands and stay at home

Do NOT assume you are now immune

If you have recently recovered from COVID-19 and you have close contact with a confirmed or probable case you don't have to go into quarantine

Please stay away from high risk settings until 14 days after the last unprotected contact with the confirmed case and monitor for symptoms

If symptoms reappear then immediately self isolate and have another test

This will change

You must continue to wash your hands really well, cover your mouth when you cough and keep a healthy space (social distancing) from others