2. OBLIGATIONS TO NOTIFY AND SELF ISOLATE STILL IN FORCE
2.1 Under the current Public Health Order (PHO), only close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case are required to self-isolate. Self-isolation periods and testing requirements differ for close contacts based on their exposure and vaccination status. Under the NSW public health order, a "close contact" means a person identified by an authorised contact tracer as:
(a) likely to have come into contact with a person with COVID-19, and
(b) at risk of developing COVID-19.
In other words, an authorised contact tracer from NSW Health or the Department of Education will contact you to confirm if you are a close contact and tell you what to do.
2.2 NSW Health and the public health order have provided the following guidelines for confirmed case and close contacts:
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Vaccination status
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Confirmed cases
(i.e. you have tested positive)
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Close contacts
(i.e. you are notified as being in contact with a confirmed case)
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Fully vaccinated
(2 doses completed at least 14 days before you last had contact with a COVID-19 case)
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Get tested if you have any symptoms. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must immediately:
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self-isolate for at least 14 days in your home until medically cleared. A medical practitioner or registered nurse will contact you at the end of your isolation period to confirm if you can be released from isolation and provide you with a medical clearance notice. Please see Release and recovery for more advice.
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tell the following people that you have tested positive for COVID-19:
(a) people staying at your house;
(b) friends and other people you have met socially where you spent 15 minutes or more in an indoor environment without a mask:
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from 2 days before you got sick until now, or
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if you had no symptoms, from 2 days before your test until now.
(c) your manager at work
(d) the head of the education facility you attend or relevant staff member.
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Self-isolate for 7 days from the date you last had contact with the COVID-19 positive person.
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Get tested immediately and again on day 6.
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Only leave self-isolation after 7 days if you receive a negative result from the test on day 6 and have no COVID-19 symptoms.
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For the following 7 days, work from home if you can and do not attend a high-risk setting (healthcare, aged care, disability care, early childhood centres, primary school and correctional facilities) even if it is your place of work.
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Not fully vaccinated
(0 or 1 dose or 2 doses completed less than 14 days since you last had contact with a COVID-19 case)
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Same as above.
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Self-isolate for 14 days from the date you last had contact with the COVID-19 positive person
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Get tested immediately, on day 6 and on day 12
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Only leave self-isolation after 14 days if you receive a negative result from the test on day 12 and have no COVID-19 symptoms.
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Already had COVID-19 in the past 6 months
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Same as above.
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You will generally not be considered a close contact and you do not need to self-isolate or get a test unless you have symptoms.
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2.3 Self-isolation means you must stay at your home or accommodation and remain separated from others, even if you are fully vaccinated or feel well. Self-isolation means you cannot:
(a) Go to work or school;
(b) Go to any public places (e.g. shops, parks, beaches);
(c) Use public transport or ride share; and
(d) Have any visitors in your home, unless they are providing healthcare, emergency maintenance or emergency services.
If you need to leave your accommodation for one of these reasons and require transport, but do not have a private vehicle, call the NSW Health Isolation Support Line on 1800 943 553 for assistance. See the Self-Isolation Guideline for further information.
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