Close Contacts
Who is a Close Contact
You are a Close Contact if you have had contact with a person with COVID-19 when they were infectious.
You are a Close Contact in the following situations:
- If you have been close (within 1.5 metres) to someone who has COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes, and they were not wearing a face mask or not wearing it properly.
- If you have had direct contact with a person who has COVID-19. For example, kissing, or if the person coughed or sneezed on you.
- If you spent time in an indoor space with someone who has COVID-19 for more than 1 hour and at least one of the following.
- They were singing, shouting, smoking, vaping, exercising, or dancing.
- They were not wearing a face mask or it was not on properly.
- It was poorly ventilated.
- It was smaller than 100m2 (about 3 double garages).
You are a Household Contact if you live with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
How you will be notified
If you have been identified as a Close Contact of someone with COVID-19, you may be notified by:
- the person who has COVID-19
- your employer or school.
What you need to do
You do not need to isolate if you are a Close Contact.
Monitor yourself for symptoms for 10 days, and if you develop any, take a rapid antigen test (RAT).
You should wear a face mask whenever you leave your home for the first 5 days following exposure, to help reduce the risk of infecting others. Wearing a face mask is important when:
- visiting vulnerable people, such as older people and those who are immunocompromised
- using public transport
- in a crowded indoor space.
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