Why visiting a doctor is the ‘worst thing you can do’ if you have coronavirus

GPs are pleading with people who think they have coronavirus to stay away, saying there’s something else you should do first if you suspect you’ve got it.

A hospital waiting room is a place often filled with sick people, weakened by whatever condition they have that brought them there.

It’s a point not lost on Australian GPs, who are now urging patients to call rather than simply show up to the practice if they think they have the coronavirus.

“Just rocking up is the worst thing you can potentially do, especially if what you have is a true case (of coronavirus), in which case you could risk infecting other people,” Australian Medical Association federal president Dr Tony Bartone told news.com.au.

“We need to be properly notified and prepared if you’re going to come in.”

“It’s in everyone’s best interest if the patient rings ahead, both for the patient and the community. Just showing up to the surgery is absolutely not a good idea.”

Symptoms of the virus include a fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness and/or shortness of breath.

GPs have been advised not to treat patients unless they have the correct personal protective equipment.

They then must notify authorities if they believe it is a legitimate case of coronavirus.

Dr Li Wenliang died while treating coronavirus patients. Picture: Li Wenliang/Social media/AFP

A GP himself, Dr Bartone has had one patient come to him believing they had the potentially deadly illness.

“Luckily it was a false alarm,” he said.

“Many of my colleagues have had occasions where they had to notify authorities,” he said. “Of course, those ones turned out to be false alarms too.”

The bottom line is, according to Dr Bartone: “If you are sick stay away from other people.”

This is an example of the Personal Protective Equipment adopted by Chinese health workers to stop the viral spread. Picture: Greg Baker/AFP

NSW Health emphasised the importance of thinking about if you were actually likely to have coronavirus, or whether it was just a common flu.

“People who have recently travelled to China, or come in close contact with someone who has had novel coronavirus, and are feeling unwell should call ahead of visiting their doctor or hospital,” they said in a statement.

They implored people to call first so that “Doctors and hospitals can then prepare for their arrival, ensure they receive the right treatment and can also treat them according to the advice from the Department of Health.”

“This is an evolving crisis which is not yet at the stage of a pandemic, but could easily go that way,” Dr Bartone said.

“We need to be vigilant, alert, not alarmed, not fearful, and practice good hygiene procedures.”