Health advice

Staff/students with respiratory illness (fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, fatigue) must not come to campus, and must arrange to have a COVID-19 test as per QLD Government advice. You will need to remain isolated until your results come through, as per current public health recommendations. You must not return to campus until completely asymptomatic and have returned a negative test result.  

If you are showing symptoms stay home and call your General Practitioner (doctor) or a health professional so that any appropriate precautionary measures can be taken regarding treatment. We suggest you phone ahead explaining your symptoms rather than attending in person. If you are a close contact. QLD Public Health will contact you.

Whilst there is still little data regarding the specific effects of COVID-19 on pregnant women, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RANZCOG) make the recommendation that, “where possible, pregnant health care workers be allocated to patients, and duties, that have reduced exposure to patients with, or suspected to have, COVID-19 infection”.  Further information is available here.   

Be mindful that various conditions can produce cold or flu-like symptoms. People can have normal cold and flu viruses at any time, and as we move into the Australian flu season these are likely to increase. 

It is reasonable to check on their welfare and ensure that they are aware of the latest health advice. If someone presents as unwell on campus and has cold and flu-like symptoms, either their supervisor, lecturer or even you should ask them if they feel unwell and if so to contact their medical practitioner (or UQ Health Care). 

Importantly, if anyone feels unwell and has the onset of any cold or flu-like symptoms, they should stay at home and not attend campus. This is important to facilitate a quick recovery for them, and it is also important for their colleagues and friends whose health should be protected.  

Staff should use UQ’s sick leave provisions. 

Masks may be considered in certain teaching, learning or research settings where it is difficult to maintain physical distancing, and as determined through a risk assessment (particularly where the environment and/or work and learning process cannot be reasonably modified). See 10 December Safety Note. 

Face masks used in laboratories must be the appropriate mask for the activity as determined by the risk assessment. Reusable (cloth) masks are not suitable for laboratory environments.

Where UQ staff and students are working in, or undertake placements, in settings where masks are required e.g. health care and aged care settings, it is expected that they comply with these local requirements.

As the advice on masks may change, it is important to stay up to date with Queensland Government advice.

The recent rise in community transmission of COVID-19 in some Australian States and Territories, has resulted in these areas recommending or requiring the use of masks.

1. Ideally, clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub (made up of over 60% alcohol or 70% isopropanol) before you put on your mask.
2. Hold the mask by its tapes or loops, then tie the mask around your head or put the loops around your ears. If you are using a mask with ear loops, you can use a plastic clip or tie to join the ends together at the back of your head to make sure it fits securely on your face.  If you are wearing a standard surgical mask, remember that the coloured side (usually blue) faces out.
3. Make sure the mask completely covers your mouth and nose, and that there are no gaps between your face and the mask.

Do not touch your eyes, nose, mouth or the front of the mask while wearing it.

Do not allow the mask to hang around your neck or under your nose.

If the mask gets soiled or damp, replace it with a new one.

When disposing of a mask, put it in general waste.  Ideally, it should go into a sealable bag first to ensure the used mask won’t be touched by others. Then put the sealed bag in the bin.

Always clean your hands immediately after removing your mask and putting it in the bin.

The best face mask is a single-use surgical mask – if you are using these for general use around campus or getting to and from campus, this will protect others if you are unwell. You can purchase these at pharmacies.

If you are unable to get a surgical mask, other paper or cloth masks are fine to use. The most effective cloth masks are made up of at least 3 layers.

If you are sick, ensure your mask does not have holes or a valve, as if you have COVID-19, you can transmit the virus to others.  A fit tested respirator - often with a valve (P2 or N95) will protect you from others that may be unwell; these masks should be reserved for health care workers.

Non-medical masks are typically made of breathable fabric, are washable and reusable. These are not the same as surgical masks or masks that healthcare workers wear. These non-medical masks are not effective at protecting the wearer as they do not filter air. However, they may offer some protection to others as the fabric may restrict some particles when breathing, speaking, coughing or sneezing. Cloth masks should be washed after every use, be made up of at least three layers of fabric and cover your nose and mouth.

The wearing of cloth face masks in laboratories is not permitted, and should be replaced by the use of disposable single use masks as defined by the risk assessment.

You can make your own cloth mask. Use the Australian Government’s helpful resource (PDF) if you want to know the best way to make a face mask.

Cloth masks should be washed after every use.

They can be washed in the washing machine with other clothes, or hand washed using soap and the warmest appropriate water setting for the cloth. Dry the cloth mask in the clothes dryer or in fresh air before you re-use it.

Clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub (made up of over 60% alcohol or 70% isopropanol) after handling used face masks.

You cannot re-use surgical masks.

You can wash and re-use cloth masks. It is a good idea to have at least two, so you will always have a clean one available. Re-using a cloth mask without washing it is not advisable, because it can become contaminated putting you at risk, and may not be as effective at reducing transmission. For each new situation put on a clean mask. Carry your clean masks in a plastic or paper bag to keep them clean.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you can get tested by a GP, a Commonwealth Respiratory Clinic, or at public and private hospitals, where fever clinics have been established.

General Practice

General Practice doctors, or GPs, can do COVID-19 testing or arrange these through private pathology providers, or they will refer you to another facility (i.e. a pathology collection centre) for a test. Some GP clinics are now also offering special COVID-19 testing clinics. Make sure to call your GPs office and let them know your symptoms before you make an appointment.

Respiratory Clinics

The Commonwealth has funded General Practices to establish specialised Respiratory Clinics for people with respiratory symptoms to be assessed and tested as required separate from regular GP waiting and consulting rooms. There is no cost to individuals attending these clinics. The two closest to UQ St. Lucia are located at PACE- Cornwall Street in Annerley and 2081 Moggill road at Kenmore.

UQ Health Care

UQ Health Care St. Lucia clinic is offering COVID 19 Testing to UQ Staff and Students Monday-Friday mornings. Call 3365 6210 to make an appointment.

This clinic is intended for those requiring testing for those with mild symptoms or those requiring a COVID test for travel purposes.

Hospitals

Most hospitals can test for COVID-19 and some have fever clinics set up specifically for this purpose. This helps to reduce the potential spread of the virus and keeps the emergency department available for other emergencies. Unless you are very unwell or it is an emergency, it’s best to contact your GP before visiting a hospital. If you are very unwell or in an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance and let them know you have symptoms of COVID-19.

Fever clinics

Fever clinics are clinics for people who have symptoms of COVID-19. These clinics help keep people who may be contagious away from other areas of hospitals or health services to minimise risk to other patients and staff. You can find a list of fever clinics in Queensland on the Queensland Government website.

More information about testing and what to expect during and following COVID testing is available on the Queensland Health Website.

No. You are required to self-isolate at home while you wait for test results which may take from one to several days.  You must not attend campus or visit any UQ facility until you have your results. The people you live with and other close contacts do not need to self-isolate unless advised otherwise from the Public Health unit. 

If the result is positive, you will receive a call from a public health doctor or nurse who will tell you what to do next.  You will need to stay at home in self-isolation until you recover. You will be monitored by Queensland Public Health. 

If the result is negative, your doctor or the clinic that tested you will let you know.  You may return to work unless you are unwell for other reasons. 

No. If you return a negative COVID-19 test result, a medical clearance is not required to return to campus but you should retain a copy of your negative test result for record keeping purposes. You must however, remain isolated until your results come through, as per current public health recommendations, and not return to campus until completely asymptomatic. You must not come to campus if you are still unwell with respiratory symptoms even if your test is negative. 

Yes. If a positive test result is confirmed, you will need to obtain a medical clearance to return to work or study. Positive cases can return to campus when you have fully recovered and have met the criteria for clearance from isolation. If you have been hospitalised for the infection, you will have documentation from the hospital about the period of hospitalisation and likely period of incapacitation following discharge from hospital. Clearance to return to campus may also be given by the public health authority or the treating clinician. A declaration from you stating you have fulfilled the quarantine requirements as specified by the Public Health authority may also be needed. 

If you have completed a 14-day quarantine period (after returning from travel or being in close contact with a confirmed case) and did not develop any symptoms during quarantine, you do not need a medical clearance or a COVID-19 test in order to return to campus. 

Close contact is considered to be either: 

• face-to-face contact in any setting with a confirmed or probable case, for 15 minutes or more. This is cumulative over the course of one week. It starts from 48 hours before the onset of symptoms in the confirmed or probable case. 
• sharing of a closed space with a confirmed or probable case for a prolonged period (e.g. more than 2 hours). This is in the period extending from 48 hours before onset of symptoms in the confirmed or probable case.    

Casual contact is defined as any person having less than 15 minutes face-to-face contact with a symptomatic confirmed case in any setting or sharing a closed space with a symptomatic confirmed case for less than 2 hours.  A closed setting might include tutorial rooms or small offices. 

Frequently washing your hands, especially before eating and after going to the toilet, is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of illness or contamination from things you may have touched. 

Basic soap and water is as good for cleaning your hands as any hand disinfectant or sanitiser.  

It should take about 20 seconds to wash your hands adequately (see steps 1-9 below). Otherwise, the remaining bacteria will grow and can double in number in less than 20 minutes. If your technique is poor then your hands will not be clean. 

The 10 steps of good hand-washing: 

• Thoroughly wet hands 
• Apply soap or cleanser 
• Rub your hands palm to palm 
• Rub your palms over back of each hand, interlacing your fingers 
• Rub palm to palm with interlaced fingers 
• Circle tips of fingers into the opposite palm 
• Clean your thumbs 
• Clean your wrists 
• Rinse thoroughly 
• Pat dry, preferably with disposable paper towels. 
• Make sure you clean under rings too, that’s where many germs hide. 

Practice other good health habits as well: 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before you eat or prepare food; after using public touchscreens and surfaces in public spaces; after you cough or sneeze; and after using the toilet. 
• Sneeze or cough into a sleeve/elbow, or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the bin. 
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. 

No, the World Health Organisation does not recommend wearing gloves in the community, because this can increase transmission to others through touching contaminated surfaces when gloves are not removed, and hands are not cleaned thoroughly following removal of gloves.  

Regular hand washing, use of hand sanitiser as well as avoiding physical contact with others and surfaces is the best way to reduce virus transmission.  

No. Vaccines for the flu do not provide protection against COVID-19. The virus is so new and different that it needs its own vaccine. Researchers are currently working to develop a vaccine against COVID-19. 

UQ public drinking water supplies are safe to drink, however the surfaces around the fountain including the spout and button/lever could pose a transmission risk for COVID-19 and other germs.  

It is recommended that you not place your mouth on the spout of a water fountain. Test the water flow and let the water run for a few seconds before drinking without putting your mouth or lips on the spout. When filling up your water bottle at the drink fountain, ensure the spout of your drink bottle does not contact the fountain head or bubbler.  

If the fountain requires you to push a button or lever, clean the surface first or use your knuckle or elbow.  If you do use your fingers/thumb, avoid touching your face until you clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.    

It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions, including the type of surface, temperature and humidity. 

If you would like further information on how to decontaminate surfaces the World Health Organisation also has an FAQ specifically on this topic.

There are two specific UQ safety notes - one on cleaning and one on disinfecting. 

The virus may be transferred if you are in close contact with a person with the virus. You can also contract the virus if it is on a surface that you touch, such as a handrail or door handle, and you then touch your face (especially your mouth, eyes or nose). Using a hand sanitiser or regularly washing your hands can help to reduce the risk.

The risk is currently low as there are very few active cases in Queensland and no evidence of local community transmission.

For more advice, please consult the safety note for public transport.

The 'incubation period' means the time between catching the virus (infection) and beginning to experience symptoms of the disease. The period of time between infection and the onset of symptoms remains unclear. Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from 1-14 days, most commonly around five days. Health authorities are taking a precautionary approach and are treating cases as infectious 24 hours prior to a person becoming unwell.

There is some evidence that the virus can be transferred through faecal matter, as can many other diseases and illnesses. Good hand hygiene is imperative, especially after going to the toilet.

The virus can be transferred from hand-to-hand contact if you then touch your mouth, nose or eyes. This is why it is very important to wash your hands frequently and to avoid touching your face as much as possible. Avoid touching other people and practise physical distancing - see our FAQ on this topic for more information. 

The risk of virus transmission is dependent on proximity. Prolonged close contact with an infected person, contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze, or touching your face after handling infected objects (such as sharing the pen or phone of an infected person), will increase the opportunity for the coronavirus to transmit.

The physical distancing requirements are to reduce the prevalence of transferring the virus from person to person. Current physical distancing advice is to keep at least 1.5m away from others.  Washing your hands frequently is also important. Download a hand washing poster.