REMINDER TO SELF ISOLATE WHILE WAITING FOR COVID-19 TEST RESULTS

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) is reminding members of the public to adhere to a strict quarantine while they await their COVID-19 test results.

MPHN’s Pandemic Lead Dr Alison Koschel said while the number of people coming forward for COVID-19 testing was encouraging, it was equally important for those people to self-isolate after being tested.

“After you have been tested, you need to self-isolate until you receive confirmation of your test results, regardless of the outcome,” Dr Koschel said.

“It can take between 24 and 48 hours before test results are available, and during this time people should remain at home.”

Wagga Wagga pharmacist Luke van de Rijt said pharmacists are seeing a concerning number of people leaving their homes while awaiting their test results to purchase symptom control medication from a pharmacy.

“Most pharmacies offer a contactless service where medication can either be delivered to your home or dropped to your car while you wait. So you can still get symptom control and regular medication without having to come into the pharmacy”, Mr van der Rijt said.

“I would encourage people who are self-isolating and in need of symptom relief or regular medications to phone their local pharmacy and discuss your options.”