Testing & COVID-19
Testing plays a pivotal role in how we look after our health and wellbeing. This is true of the recent global response to 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). It is also true of how we continue to respond to HIV and look after our sexual health more broadly.
TESTING FOR COVID-19
With numbers of new cases decreasing in most parts of Australia, we’re now seeing state governments initiate a ‘testing blitz’. This means testing more people – even those with mild symptoms.
The symptoms to watch out for include:
- Fever
- Chills or sweats
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
- Runny nose
- Loss of sense of taste and/or smell
- In certain circumstances headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also be considered.
By testing more and more people, we’ll be able to get closer to eradicating the virus altogether. This means we are less likely to see another outbreak when lockdown restrictions are lifted in the weeks and months ahead.
In Victoria and South Australia there is a growing number of places where you can be tested for COVID-19. Check with your respective state government website for an updated list of COVID-19 testing clinics.
Get Tested for COVID-19 (Victoria)
Get Tested for COVID-19 (South Australia)
Alternatively, call:
- 1800 675 398 (Victoria)
- 1800 253 787 (South Australia)
SEXUAL HEALTH TESTING
With so many people observing strict physical distancing and abstaining from casual sex, we have a unique opportunity to also significantly reduce the number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) out there.
By getting tested and treated now, we will be able to minimise the number of STIs in our communities when it comes time for restrictions to be lifted.
Now is the perfect time to get tested for HIV and know your HIV status.
Contact your local GP or sexual health practitioner about getting tested. Keep in mind that due to current restrictions, your appointment may run a little differently and you may consult with your doctor via telehealth. Your GP or local clinic will be able to offer more information if this is the case.