As more coronavirus cases mount in Australia and across the globe, we've discussed what you can do to minimise your risk of getting the virus, what items you may want to stock up on, and whether or not the virus will end.

But what if you think you have coronavirus? What should you do, where should you go and how do you get tested?

We have some of the answers for you here.

Who's at risk for coronavirus?

One of the first things to note about COVID-19 is that the risk is lessened for people who are healthy and have not come into contact with infected people or travelled to areas where there is a high infection rate.

Those areas include China, Iran, South Korea, and Italy where Australia has issued travel bans or implemented restrictions.

I think I have coronavirus, what should I do?

If you have symptoms of coronavirus — which include having a cough, fever, runny nose or shortness of breath — authorities recommend you seek medical attention.

However, a spokesperson from the Department of Health said you should always call ahead first.

"It is important that [the individual] calls ahead of time to book an appointment and tell the medical professional about their symptoms, travel history and any recent close contact with someone who has COVID-19," the spokesperson said.

You should ask the medical professional whether it is appropriate to wear a mask to the testing facility to prevent potential spread.

But remember — if you have these symptoms, it is not necessarily COVID-19 and could be another illness such as influenza.

Should I isolate myself?

If you have been in mainland China, Iran or South Korea in the past 14 days, or if you have travelled in or transited within those countries, you will need to stay at home and isolate yourself for 14 days since you left that country.

You should also self-isolate if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Information about who needs to self-isolate may be found on the Australian Government Department of Health website.

What is the test and where can I get it?

The test can be ordered by your local GP or at a hospital emergency department and is done in public health laboratories across Australia — although there are plans to "scale up" testing capabilities around the country.

You should not be self-testing or taking any steps without medical advice.

There are now 'drive-thru' COVID-19 testing centres in South Korea. ( Reuters: Kim Kyung-Hoon )

"It is essential that testing for COVID-19 infection is undertaken by appropriately accredited and specialised laboratories," the Department of Health spokesperson said.

"Self-testing is not appropriate and could provide invalid or false results."

How is the test carried out?

Testing methods worldwide include a blood test, a swab test inside your nose or in the back of your throat, or a sputum (mix of saliva and mucus) test.

The blood test format or serology method (the examination of blood serum) is currently not available in Australia, where it is more likely the test will be a nasal swab, as per the guidelines set out by the Department of Health for pathologists.

"The collection of respiratory samples is required for a diagnosis of COVID-19 infection to be made using the tests that are available today," the Department of Health spokesperson said.

"Serology tests [blood tests] are being developed that will detect whether an individual has had an immune response to the COVID-19 infection."

How long do the tests take?

The Department of Health spokesperson said the timeframe to confirm a test result depended on where the specimen is collected, and turnaround times varied between jurisdictions.

Patients are asked to isolate themselves while waiting for a result.

The recommendations about testing and quarantine are being updated daily as the situation changes and could be amended if and when more cases of the virus spread in the community.

Why is Australia in a good position to ward off the coronavirus threat?

Australia's healthcare system has been ranked among the best in the developed world, with health spending topping $185.4 billion in 2017-18.

Swabs are the main way of testing for coronavirus. ( Reuters: David Ryder )

To put things into perspective, that equates to $7,485 per person, compared to about $930 in China and an average of less than $200 in sub-Saharan Africa.

But, while the nation is in a comparatively good position to ward off the growing threat, new infectious diseases are not created (nor transmitted) in isolation.

In declaring the outbreak of COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern, the World Health Organisation — which has called for a $US675 million ($1 billion) fund to fight the virus — said its greatest concern was the potential for it to spread to countries "with weaker health systems and which are ill-prepared to deal with it".