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COVID-19 – Clinical information and resources

For resources to help your business through this pandemic, visit our COVID practice support page
Advice on this page will be updated as the situation evolves and new or changed information comes to hand. New information will be highlighted.
You should continue to return to this website for the latest information rather than  printing/ storing local copies of fact or information sheets.
Note: The information on this page is intended for clinicians only.

Latest updates

Queensland COVID-19 Restricted Areas Direction (No.3)

At 8:00am on Saturday 22 August 2020, the following local government areas, which are the relevant LGAs for West Moreton Hospital and Health Service, Metro South Hospital and Health Service and Metro North Hospital and Health Service, were declared Queensland COVID-19 restricted areas, and restricted activities apply.

  • Brisbane Local Government Area
  • Ipswich Local Government Area
  • Logan Local Government Area
  • Somerset Region Local Government Area
  • Scenic Rim Region Local Government Area
  • Lockyer Valley Local Government Area
  • Moreton Bay Local Government Area
  • Redland City Local Government Area

Read all Chief Health Officer Public Directions here.

Case definition and testing criteria

These public health alerts communicate the latest COVID-19 testing recommendations and national guidance to Queensland clinicians.

Read the Public Health Alerts online here. 

This Queensland Health GP assessment and management of patients with suspected COVID-19 , includes this testing criteria.

CDNA Guidelines for testing

Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) Guidelines summarise recommendations for surveillance, infection control, laboratory testing and contact management for COVID-19.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people living in remote communities are at greater risk from COVID-19. As the rules for seeing people and moving through the community are eased, there are still extra steps needed to protect these communities: CDNA Interim National Guidance for remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for COVID-19

Updated Chief Health Officer Directions
  • Public Health Direction – Aged Care (No. 9) or its successor
    Prohibits visitors to an aged care facility in a restricted area, unless a resident is at end-of-life.
  • Public Health Direction – Hospital Visitors (No. 6) or its successor
    Visitors are not allowed to hospitals in restricted areas, unless approved by the operator of a private hospital or by the Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive under their clinical guidelines.
  • Public Health Direction – Movement and Gathering (No. 3) or its successor
    Prohibits more than 10 people gathering publicly, and limits visitors to a private residence to a maximum of 10 people within restricted areas.
  • Limits gathering to a maximum of 30 people in a non-restricted area.
  • Public Health Direction – Disability Accommodation Services (No. 1) or its successor
    Prohibits visitors to the restricted disability accommodation services in the listed local government areas.

    Read all Chief Health Officer Public Directions here.

Information and resources

Fever clinics and testing locations

Fever clinics are set up by Queensland Health and the respective HHS to test suspected COVID cases.

Respiratory clinics have been established and contracted by the Department of Health for testing and management of respiratory symptoms.

If you aren’t conducting COVID-19 testing in your practice, we encourage you to refer patients on to private pathology, or to your nearest respiratory or fever clinic.

Click here for the current list of fever clinics and respiratory clinics

The locations listed are current as at time of publication and will be updated regularly. HealthPathways is considered the most accurate and current source of information re. clinics. 

To find a testing location near you, please visit:

Sippy Downs GP-Led Respiratory Clinic. Please note this is for Sunshine Coast HHS only.
Virtual Fever Clinic. Please note this is for Sunshine Coast HHS only.
Fever Clinic flow chart. Please note this is for Sunshine Coast HHS only.

Find previous PHN COVID-19 alerts here

Click here for up to date respiratory and fever clinic information

Requesting masks

As supplies are limited, PHNs have been given the role of distributing surgical masks to general practices (including Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations) with demonstrated need, including:

  • where there is no local supply available commercially
  • where practices have a population which may be more likely to have been exposed to the novel coronavirus
  • where practices have an unusual number of patients presenting with respiratory symptoms

Community pharmacies are eligible to access the supply for the use of their staff when there is no available commercial supply and they have significant contact with people presenting with fever or respiratory symptoms.

Masks distributed through PHNs cannot be sold as commercial stock or kept for personal use.

There is no need for the general public or health workers to wear masks unless they are dealing with symptomatic patients.

Eligible practices can complete a mask request form here.

Here is a list of commercial PPE providers who may have stock.

HealthPathways

HealthPathways is an online manual used by clinicians to help make assessment, management, and specialist request decisions, with information regarding COVID-19 directly informed by the State Health Emergency Coordination Centre. 
Medical clearance certificates now on HealthPathways
Templates for medical clearance certificates are now available on the HealthPathways COVID19 Assessment and Management page. Log in to HealthPathways and scroll down to ‘Management’ then use the template from the appropriate scenario.

Clinical toolkit for health providers

Patient resources