This information is in response to the current novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. We are communicating to all Members, Authorised Representatives, Helpers, Five Good Friends Staff and Third Party Providers.

Help us ensure you receive all information and update quickly

If you would like to check we have a current email address for you or a loved one in our system please contact our Member Services Team on 1300 787 581 Option 1 to update details.

If you are an Authorised Representative for one of our Members who does not use email please share all our updates and information with them.

All advice contained on this page and in future will come directly from government authorities.

What is a coronavirus and COVID-19?

Coronaviruses can make humans and animals sick. Some coronaviruses can cause illness similar to the common cold and others can cause more serious diseases, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). This new coronavirus originated in Hubei Province, China and the disease outbreak is named COVID-19.

How is this coronavirus spread?

The coronavirus is most likely to spread from person-to-person through:

• direct close contact with a person while they are infectious
• close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes, or
• touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face.

How can we help prevent the spread of coronavirus?

Practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence against most viruses. You should:

• wash your hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
• cover your cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser and if unwell, avoid contact with others (touching, kissing, hugging, and other intimate contact).
• Please view and download the information sheet for appropriate hand washing technique.
• Please view and download the information sheet for appropriate cough etiquette.

Who needs to isolate?

To help limit the spread of coronavirus, you must isolate yourself in the following circumstances:

• If you have left, or transited through, mainland China in the last 14 days you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the date of leaving mainland China. This is even if you are well.
• If you have left, or transited through Iran on or after 1 March, you must isolate yourself until 14 days after leaving Iran. This is even if you are well.
• If you are travelling from the Republic of Korea, on or after 5 March, you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the time you left the Republic of Korea. This is even if you are well
• If you are arriving in Australia from Italy, you must present for health screening at the border as directed. Unless you are instructed to, you do not need to isolate at home.
• If you work as a healthcare worker or as a residential aged care worker, you cannot attend work for 14 days after leaving Italy.
• If you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus, you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the date of last contact with the confirmed case.

The Australian Government considers the following countries to be at moderate risk for COVID-19:

• Cambodia
• Hong Kong
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Singapore
• Thailand

If you have recently travelled to these countries, monitor your health for 14 days after leaving that country. If you develop a fever or cough, seek medical advice and isolate yourself.

You should telephone the health clinic or hospital before you arrive and tell them your travel history or that you may have been in contact with a potential case of coronavirus. You must remain isolated either in your home or a healthcare setting until public health authorities inform you it is safe for you to return to your usual activities.

Please view and download the information sheet from the Department of Health on signs of COVID-19.

If you fall into any of these category please contact our Member Services Team on 1300 787 581 Option 1 so we can discuss your care and services with Five Good Friends

What does isolate in your home mean?

People who must isolate need to stay at home and must not attend public places, in particular work, school, childcare or university. Only people who usually live in the household should be in the home.

Do not allow visitors into the home. Where possible, get others such as friends or family who are not required to be isolated to get food or other necessities for you. If you must leave the home, such as to seek medical care, wear a mask if you have one.

Who is most at risk of a serious illness?

Some people who are infected may not get sick at all, some will get mild symptoms from which they will recover easily, and others may become very ill, very quickly. From previous experience with other coronaviruses, the people at most risk of serious infection are: people with compromised immune systems, such as people with cancer elderly people

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• very young children and babies, and
• people with diagnosed chronic medical conditions.

Further Resources

The Department of Health provides a range of resources we should all be familiar with, for more information please visit: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-resources

This is an important time for all of us. While the impact of coronavirus in Australia is limited at this stage, authorities do predict that this will evolve.

Being informed, aware, and responsible is an important part of supporting our Members, and each other.