COVID-19 FAQs

Anyone with the following symptoms can be tested for coronavirus (COVID-19):

• A fever (a temperature of 38 degrees or above)

OR

• A cough, a sore throat, shortness of breath or respiratory illness

Visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-coronavirus-disease-covid-19#who-can-be-tested-for-coronavirus-covid-19 for more information.

You can call the 24-hour hotline 1800 675 398 to find out to get tested.

You can also call your Doctor. They may be able to do the test or they can refer you to a pathology collection centre, a hospital assessment centre or a GP respiratory clinic.

You can also go directly to one of the Victorian hospital coronavirus (COVID-19) assessment centres listed below for testing.You don’t need to call ahead if you attend one of the following clinics (unless stated otherwise below).

• Metropolitan health services
• Alfred Hospital
• Austin Hospital
• Box Hill Hospital – Eastern Health
• Casey Hospital – Monash Health
• Dandenong Hospital – Monash Health
• Frankston Hospital – Peninsula Health
• Monash Medical Centre, Clayton – Monash Health
• Northern Hospital – Northern Health
• Royal Children’s Hospital
• Royal Melbourne Hospital – Melbourne Health
• St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne
• Sunshine Hospital – Western Health

Visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-coronavirus-disease-covid-19#where-can-i-get-tested-for-coronavirus-covid-19 for more information.

Please only call Hatzolah for emergencies. If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP OR ring the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 (alternatively the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080). For more information about the coronavirus visit: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

• Stay at home. Don’t visit friends or family at this time.
• There are only four reasons to leave your house:
  • shopping for what you need – food and essential supplies
  • medical, care or compassionate needs
  • exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements
  • and for work and education – if necessary.
• Do not travel throughout Victoria unless absolutely necessary.
• Stay healthy with good nutrition, regular exercise and sleeping well. Avoid excessive use of alcohol and for smokers, consider quitting.
• Our future is in our hands. Protect yourself and others by:
  • OFTEN Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds but especially after being in a public place, blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or using the toilet. If soap and water is not available, use a hand sanitiser that contains >60% alcohol.
  • ALWAYS wash your hands before eating.
  • AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • COVER your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • NEVER cough or sneeze into your hands, use your elbow.
  • DO NOT share drink bottles, crockery and cutlery.
  • Stop shaking hands, hugging or kissing as a greeting.
• Ensure a distance of at least 1.5 metres is kept between yourself and others.
• Get vaccinated for flu (influenza). This will help reduce the strain on the healthcare system as it deals with coronavirus. Vaccines are now available from your GP and pharmacy.
• Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly e.g. phones, keyboards, door handles, light switches, bench tops.

Visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-coronavirus-disease-covid-19#how-can-i-protect-myself-and-others for more information.

The safety of our responders, patients and the community is paramount. To ensure the quickest and safest response to your medical emergency, you will be asked questions to ascertain any COVID-19 risk at the event to ensure responders are wearing the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. 

The questions you are asked may change slightly depending on the situation and current guidelines from Ambulance Victoria and the DHHS. 

Examples of questions you may be asked include:

• Does the patient or anyone at the scene have Coronavirus or have they been tested?
• Is the patient, or anyone with the patient, in isolation due to Coronavirus?
• Does the patient have a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath?

All Calltakers / Dispatchers during the current Pandemic are experienced Hatzolah Responders.

You should still call Hatzolah for medical emergencies. If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP OR ring the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 (alternatively the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080). For more information about the coronavirus visit: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

1. Stay at home – NO VISITORS, no work and no quick trips anywhere.
2. Get essentials delivered or get help from friends or family – supplies should be left at the door so no contact is made with others.
3. Wear a mask – in a shared space
4. Avoid sharing rooms – if necessary then stay in a well-ventilated room at least 1.5m away from housemates or family for no longer than 15 minutes. Do not share a room with the elderly or people with chronic health conditions.
5. Don’t share household items – including the bathroom, dishes, towels and toiletries. Make sure high-touch surfaces e.g. door knobs are cleaned often (at least once a day).

For more information visit: https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/coronavirus-covid-19-isolation-guidance_2.pdf

If we all socially isolate, individually we can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to >405 people each in 30 days.

1. Stay 2 metres apart from people at all times.
2. Stay home, even if you are well.
3. Wash your hands regularly with soap >20 seconds, especially before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, using the toilet and being in a public place.

For your safety and ours, Responders may arrive wearing personal protective equipment including: face mask, face shield, gloves, goggles and a body suit. They may also ask you to put on a mask.

1. Please wait for Responders to approach your location.
2. Have your phone ready as Hatzolah or Ambulance Victoria may need to contact you.
3. Please answer any No Caller ID phone calls.

Please only call Hatzolah for emergencies. If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. For more information about the coronavirus visit: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, our Hatzolah Responders are ready to respond to your Medical Emergencies. However, as with other first responders and ambulance paramedics, they are putting the wellbeing and lives of themselves and their families at risk with every call they attend.

Please Help Look After Us So We Can Look After You by cooperating with the following:

1. Answer all the questions that you are asked by Hatzolah’s Dispatcher and Ambulance Victoria, Clearly and Openly. If there is other information you feel is relevant, please supply it to the Dispatcher or the Responders before they approach you.
2. Have the minimum number of people in the room or vicinity of the patient.
3. Unless you are the patient, stay away from the scene if you have been exposed to a COVID-19 patient, have been overseas in the past 14 days, are unwell in any way, in quarantine or living with someone in quarantine.
   
4. Please wait for Responders to approach your location – do not approach them.
5. Have your phone charged and ready to answer Hatzolah or Ambulance Victoria.
6. Please answer any No Caller ID phone calls.

Hatzolah Melbourne is pulling out all stops to keep our Responders and their families safe. Ultimately we need your help to succeed.

Please only call Hatzolah for emergencies. If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. For more information about the coronavirus visit: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

Beyond Blue have compiled an excellent list of suggestions to support your mental health during this period of self-isolation.

• Remind yourself that this is a temporary period of isolation to slow the spread of the virus.
• Remember that your effort is helping others in the community avoid contracting the virus.
• Stay connected with friends, family and colleagues via email, social media, video conferencing or telephone.
• Connect with others via the Beyond Blue forums thread: Coping during the coronavirus outbreak.
• Engage in healthy activities that you enjoy and find relaxing.
• Keep regular sleep routines and eat healthy foods.
• Try to maintain physical activity (within social distancing guidelines)
• Establish routines and try to view this period as a new experience that can bring health benefits.
• For those working from home, try to maintain a healthy balance by allocating specific work hours, taking regular breaks and, if possible, establishing a dedicated work space.
• Avoid news and social media if you find it distressing.

If you or someone you know needs help now call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Visit https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/managing-my-daily-life/coping-with-isolation-and-being-at-home/managing-your-mental-health-while-in-self-isolation-or-quarantine.html for more information.

The preservation of life comes before all other matters and government regulations must be adhered to. Restricted Activities and Stay at Home Directions including the prohibition and/or limitation of religious activities such as the closure of Shules, prohibition of davening with a minyan, and limitations on the number of people who can attend funerals and weddings must be adhered to by all.

Give up a little now so we can have those we love for years to come.

Stay in touch. Don’t socially visit but call regularly especially to the elderly, the vulnerable and those living alone.

You can visit someone so long as you are providing care and support if they are unwell, disabled, elderly or pregnant. Visit dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-stay-home-and-restricted-activities-directions-faq?fbclid=IwAR21WSFlLbPIFlRAmq0yfHBtEUpobYInMU_DDY34QBejS2H8_Aywj4vp3NE for more information.