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Most people who become infected with COVID-19 experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more severe for others. Take care of your health and protect others by doing the following:

Follow the advice and directions of the WA Government

The WA Government regularly updates its advice and directions via their COVID-19 website. This includes advice on getting the COVID-19 vaccination, using the SafeWA app, travel and restrictions, and getting ready for opening WA borders.

Why? The WA Government has declared a State of Emergency for WA and provides the most up to date information on advice, rules and restrictions.

Get COVID-19 vaccinated

The Australian Government started issuing free vaccinations to all Australians in 2021. Vaccinations and boosters are now available to anyone over the age of five years in WA at GP clinics, some pharmacies and COVID-19 vaccination centres in WA.

For help booking a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, you can call the Disability Gateway Helpline on 1800 643 787.

All disability support workers and community nurses in WA (including Affirm Care staff) must be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Why? Getting a COVID-19 vaccine protects you from getting very sick or even dying from COVID-19. People with a disability are at higher risk from COVID-19 and are one of the priority groups for vaccinations.

Getting vaccinated also helps protect people around you by slowing the spread of the virus.

Vaccinating children can help reduce community transmission and help prevent children passing the virus onto younger siblings, grandparents and the wider community.

Maintain social distancing

Maintain at least 1.5 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone else who is coughing or sneezing.

Why? When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain a virus, including the COVID-19 virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets and catch the virus.

Wear a face mask

A disposable or reusable face mask covers your nose and mouth. The WA Government regularly updates rules about when and where people should wear a face mask, for example, on public transport or in crowded indoor places.

Why? Droplets in the air spread viruses. Face masks reduce the risk of sharing viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19 between people when they come into close contact with one another.

Cover coughs and sneezes

Make sure you (and the people around you) cover their mouth and nose with their bent elbow or tissue when they cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

Why? Droplets in the air spread viruses. By covering coughs and sneezes, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

People naturally touch their eyes, nose and mouth many times a day without thinking about it. It is better to stop doing this.

Why? Your hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once hands can then transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and make you sick.

Wash your hands frequently

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub, or wash them with soap and water.

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water, or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Use the SafeWA app

Download the SafeWA app onto your mobile phone and use it to check in whenever you visit an office, business, shop or public venue. If you don’t have your phone with you, or have not downloaded the app, sign in using the paper register provided there (or ask someone there to help you do this).

Why? If someone in the community tests positive for COVID-19, contact tracers from the WA Health Department can use the data from the SafeWA app and written contact registers, to contact people who were there at the same time as the infected person. They will let you know what steps you need to take.

Get tested for COVID-19

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose, loss of taste or smell), you need to get tested as soon as possible. Testing is free at COVID-19 testing clinics, hospitals and some private pathology centres. You do not need your Medicare card to get tested.

As an NDIS participant, you can now use your core funding to purchase Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to test yourself for COVID-19 at home when you need to show a negative result to access your supports.

Why? Going out into the community when you are unwell will expose other people to catching whatever virus you have. Getting tested for COVID-19 helps protect people around you by slowing the spread of the virus. It may also mean you can access additional practical, financial and medical support.

Seek medical care early

Stay home if you feel unwell, even if you don’t think you have COVID-19. If you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical advice and care from your GP, but call them in advance of any visit.

Why? Going out into the community when you are unwell will expose other people to catching whatever virus you have. Accessing advice and care from your GP is important to your health and recovery. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent the spread of viruses and other infections.

Follow these links for more useful information:

WA Government COVID-19 website

WA COVID-19 (coronavirus) Disability Services

Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support from the NDIS