How to plan and prepare for COVID-19 isolation

It's important to have a plan in case yourself or a member of your household test positive to COVID-19 and are required to isolate, Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Professor Michael Kidd says.

Anyone who tests positive to COVID-19 is required to isolate for at least seven days in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT.

Those in South Australia are required to isolate for 14 days while Western Australians can only leave isolation after being cleared by WA Health.

Professor Kidd advised people to buy cold and flu medicine to treat the symptoms of COVID-19 in a Department of Health video.

"If you've got a positive result, you're not able to go to the pharmacy, you're not able to go to the supermarket," he said in the clip.

"So this means being prepared, having at home the regular medicines that you would take if you have a bad cold or the flu."

Professor Kidd also advised people with pre-existing medical conditions to make sure they have their regular medications on hand prior to isolation.

The Deputy CMO said having a thermometer at home is a "good idea" to help monitor temperature in case you develop a fever.

"A high fever can be an indication of the need to reach out for more help and support," he said.

Professor Kidd advised Australians to stock up on food and drink as well as pre-prepare meals for their stint in COVID-19 isolation.

"Make sure that you've got plenty of nourishing food at home. Good idea to have some meals prepared in your freezer so that if you're not feeling unwell, you can just take something out and pop it in the microwave," he said.

"Make sure you've got plenty of fluids. When you have COVID-19, [it is] very important you're drinking lots of water. But it may also be helpful to have some electrolyte solution, which helps to combat the risk of dehydration."

Just because you're isolated, doesn't mean you have to be isolated.

Professor Kidd advised Australians to set up a support network by getting phone numbers for their family, friends, neighbours and local GP.

"Good idea to have your local general practice number handy and also the phone number of who will you call for support and assistance, particularly if you're living on your own," Professor Kidd said.

"So is there a family member or a friend or a neighbour who will be able to help you and go to the shops and get the things that you may need because you're isolating at home?"

Professor Kidd also advised people offer their support to others in case they test positive to COVID-19 or if they already have the disease "so you can support each other".

"We're seeing a lot of that happening throughout the community at this time," he said.