General COVID-19 Q&A

​WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS ​(COVID-19)?​

​Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus which affects humans and animals. Some Coronaviruses can cause illness similar to the common cold, and others such as SARS can cause more serious illness. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath, and can take up to 14 days to develop.

HOW IS COVID-19 TRANSMITTED?

​COVID-19 spreads through close contact with an infected person, mostly face-to-face or within a closed space. It can’t jump across a room or be carried for long distances in the air.

​​WHAT IS A CLOSE CONTACT?

You are a close contact if you:

• live in the same house as someone who tests positive
• spent 4 hours or longer with someone in a home, or health or aged care environment
• are determined as one by your state or territory health department. 

Different states and territories have different requirements for close contacts of people with COVID-19. If you are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19, visit your state or territory health department website to see what rules apply to you.

​If you have symptoms you should visit your nearest testing clinic as soon as possible.

​If you have no symptoms you should take a rapid antigen test at home.

HOW CAN I REDUCE MY RISK OF DEVELOPING COVID-19?

Take the following steps to reduce your exposure and chance of getting ill with COVID-19:
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• Get vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Wear a face mask.
• Wash your hands often with soap and running water, for at least 20 seconds.
• Dry your hands with a paper towel or hand dryer.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• If you don’t have a tissue on hand, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow.
• Clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly.
• Stop shaking hands or kissing as a greeting.
• Stay at home if you feel sick.
• If you take medication make sure you have enough. 
• Phone your doctor or the DHHS hotline – 1800 675 398 – if you need medical attention. They will tell you what to do. Continue healthy habits: exercise, drink water, get plenty of sleep.
• ​Buy an alcohol-based sanitiser with over 60 percent alcohol.
• Avoid crowds if possible. If you can’t, keep the time spent in a crowd short.

​WHAT IS 'SOCIAL DISTANCING'?

Social distancing is a way to help slow down the spread of COVID-19. It involves changing your social habits to reduce the risk of transmission, and is beneficial to yourself and your community.

​Social distancing is effective, but by itself it can’t eliminate the risk of transmission. It includes:

• staying home when unwell
• avoiding large crowds and gatherings which are non-essential
• avoiding small gatherings, in enclosed spaces, that are non-essential
• keeping a distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and others
• avoiding visiting vulnerable people, such as those in aged care facilities or hospitals, or people with compromised immune systems due to illness or medical treatment
• minimising contact such as shaking hands, hugging and kissing especially with people at a higher risk, such as people with the elderly and those with existing medical conditions.

What are the symptoms of covid-19?

Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe. Some people recover easily, and others get very sick very quickly. If you test positive for COVID-19 you may experience:

• fever
• coughing
• sore throat
• shortness of breath.

Other symptoms include:

• runny nose or congestion
• headache or fatigue
• muscle or joint pains
• nausea or loss of appetite
• diarrhoea or vomiting
• temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste.

​COVID-19 symptoms are similar to some common illnesses, such as colds and flu, or allergies. 

Q&A for Drivers & Passengers

CAN A PASSENGER USE THE DRIVER'S VEHICLE IF THEY ARE DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19?

Wherever possible, unwell passengers should use a personal mode of transport to minimise exposure to others.
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If a passenger needs to use a taxi, hire or rideshare vehicle to travel to a location for isolation and is displaying symptoms, then they should avoid contact with the driver and stay more than 1.5 metres away from them.

Ideally the passenger would travel in a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) or High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and thus maintain a safe distance from the driver.

​ The passenger should sit in the back seat, and hand sanitisers should be available to both the passenger and driver. The air conditioner/heating setting should be set to external airflow mode, as opposed to recycled.

If the driver believes a passenger hasn’t taken the above precautions and they can’t provide a safe service as a result, then they may choose to refuse or terminate the trip.
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It is never ok to refuse or cancel a trip based on a passenger’s nationality, disability or cultural background. There are equal opportunity and anti-discrimination laws that apply to fare refusal. The driver should also be mindful of passenger safety at all times.

CAN THE DRIVER ASK PASSENGERS TO APPLY DISINFECTANT HAND SANITISER?

While passengers aren’t required to apply hand sanitiser, the driver can certainly offer it to their passenger. The driver should also clean and disinfect surfaces in their vehicle which they and their passengers touch, as well as wash their own hands thoroughly with soap and water or use hand sanitiser, regularly.

​CAN THE DRIVER REFUSE CASH AS PAYMENT?

Digital and contactless payment methods may assist in reducing contact between drivers and passengers. If the driver does decide to receive cash, they should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water or apply hand sanitiser after handling it. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

HOW CAN DRIVERS KEEP THEIR VEHICLE CLEAN AND ARE THEY REQUIRED TO CLEAN THEIR VEHICLE AFTER EACH TRIP TO MINIMISE THE IMPACT OF THE VIRUS?

​Drivers should regularly clean and disinfect surfaces in their vehicle which they and their passengers touch.

​Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, or use hand sanitiser, regularly.

Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

Drivers should keep a box of tissues in their vehicle.