COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus. Symptoms include fever, coughing, sore throat and shortness of breath.

The Coronavirus spreads mainly from direct and indirect contact by an infected person. Being in contact with an infected person’s cough or sneeze, and touching a surface that has the virus on it, then from yourself touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

If you are concerned you may have COVID-19:

• Try the free online symptom checker
• Call the National Coronavirus Helpline at 1800 020 080 for 24/7 assistance
• Arrange for testing at your local doctor’s clinic. See below for testing criteria

For the latest news on the development of the Coronavirus, visit www.health.gov.au

As there is currently no vaccine to prevent catching the coronavirus, you must take simple measures to help reduce the risk of catching it. 

Do

• Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap by following the safe hand washing procedure which is given by the World Health Organisation.

1. Wet hands with water and apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces
2. Rub hands palm to palm, then right interlace fingers and rub
3. Palm to back of hand interlacing – both sides
4. Rotating hand around thumb – both sided
5. Cup hand and rotate fingers of opposite palm of hand – both sides
6. Right palm around left fingers – vise versa
7. Rub wrists – both sides
8. Rinse hands with water, palms facing down
9. Dry thoroughly with a single use towel
10. Turn the tap off with the towel and dispose

To help understand the importance of proper hand washing techniques, watch this video which demonstrates these techniques with black paint on white gloves.

• Cover your nose and moth with a disposable tissue or flexed elbow when you cough or sneeze. It is not advisable to use a handkerchief at this time.
• Avoid close contact with anyone around you. Try to keep a 1.5 meter distance between each other at all times. To visualize this, make sure neither person can touch each other when extending their arm out fully.
• Stay home and self-isolate from others in the household if you feel unwell
• Continue to eat beneficial foods which help keep your immune system strong, such as blueberries for antioxidants, oranged for Vitamin C, dark green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach and red capiscums to name a few.

Don’t

• Touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean or if you thoroughly washed them recently with soap
• Go outside for an unnecessary reason. Necessary reasons as of 7/04/2020 stated by the government are:
  • For your own health care
  • To care for someone else
  • To shop for what you need
  • To work or study
  • To exercise
  • To visit your romantic partner

Try to obey these, as failing to do so may result in a hefty fine.

• Shake hands with anyone/avoid unnecessary contact with others

All staff here at Online Consulting are taking these measures to ensure the safety of ourselves and you.

• Cover any coughs and sneezes with elbows or a disposable tissue
• Washing hands with soap and water every time we handle equipment and before and after going to the toilet.
• Have alcohol-based sanitisers nearby, for ourselves and our clients to use. Used before and after handling equipment
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
• Clean and disinfect office surfaces, keyboards, doorknobs and handles regularly
• Clean and disinfect our personal objects such as mobile phones, keys and wallets to keep ourselves and you safe
• Ensuring our locations are well ventilated

• If meeting in person, we never come closer than 1.5 meters of each other for our and your protection
• We respectfully choose not to shake hands or hug at this time, to maintain social distancing behaviour to help slow the spread of the virus
• If we are handling your devices or equipment, we ask you to keep a safe distance from it, and as we approach we disinfect ourselves first with hand sanitiser and from washing our hands with soap and water, then disinfect the device before using it. Once we are done, we disinfect again then move away to let you approach.
• We try to keep gatherings with multiple people as low as possible
• We will try to avoid cash payments when possible

In the event that one of our staff comes into contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19, they will self-isolate and will not meet clients at all. They will be self-isolating for at least 14 days.