Testing will now be based on the clinical symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of age or occupation – making Victoria’s testing criteria the widest in Australia.
This means that people with a disability, family members and support workers can now be tested if experiencing symptoms such as fever, chills or breathing problems, specifically cough, sore throat or shortness of breath. A person must be experiencing one or more of these symptoms to be eligible for testing.
Last week (8 April), the Victorian Government recognised disability support workers as frontline essential workers and expanded testing guidelines to include support workers.
As the testing expands, the testing of healthcare workers including disability support workers will be a high priority, because their contact with members of the public may place them at higher risk.
Healthcare workers and other frontline workers will be able to have their test results returned faster, allowing them to get back to their vital work in the community as soon as possible.
Testing will also continue for people with compatible symptoms who are close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases, travellers from overseas, as well as cruise ships passengers.
There are now 40 screening clinics open across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
All people being tested for COVID-19 should home isolate until test results are available. All patients should attend an emergency department if their condition begins to deteriorate.
For more information, visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus