Personal hygiene and other COVID safe behaviours

Protect yourself and others from COVID-19

You can do things to help avoid getting sick with COVID-19, like: 

• Staying up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations.
• Staying home if you have cold or flu symptoms and doing a RAT. If you need to leave home, wear a mask and avoid crowded spaces.
• Wearing a mask in high-risk settings. You may be required to wear a mask when visiting hospitals and aged and disability care.
• Talking with your doctor now if you are at higher risk of severe illness. Your doctor may recommend a PCR test if you get sick. You may also be eligible for antiviral medicines.
• Not visiting people who are at higher risk if you have symptoms or COVID-19.

If you have any of these, you should consult your doctor or call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

Personal hygiene

• Avoid close contact with people who have cold or flu-like symptoms.
• Stay at home if you are unwell until you feel better.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing and sneezing, or cough into your elbow, not your hands.

Wash your hands

• Wash your hands often. Use soap and water and wash for 20 seconds.
• When you can’t wash your hands with soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

Masks

• Some people, including people at higher risk of severe illness, may choose to wear a mask to protect themselves, such as when in indoor settings or on public transport. Be kind and considerate of someone’s choice to wear a mask.
• Do not visit people who are at higher risk if you have symptoms of COVID-19.
• You may be required to wear a mask in NSW when visiting high-risk settings such as hospitals and aged and disability care settings in NSW. Wearing a mask in these settings helps protect people at higher risk of severe illness and staff.

It's also important to take these steps when visiting people at higher risk of severe illness, such as those in aged care facilities or hospitals, pregnant women, or people with compromised immune systems.