Coronavirus Australia: Who can now be tested for COVID-19 in Australia

Many states have changed their guidelines on who can be tested for COVID-19. Check here to see if you are now able to be tested for the virus.

A number of states around Australia have broadened their guidelines on who can be tested for coronavirus.

Health authorities acknowledged in recent days that the curve in Australia does appear to be flattening as the overall number of cases diagnosed each day is falling.

However, concern is growing that while the number of overseas cases is under control, community transmission is not being controlled and detected.

In NSW, Queensland, Victoria, the ACT and Western Australia, testing criteria has broadened in recent days.

The broadening of the testing guidelines means many people who previously would not have been able to get tested for coronavirus may now be eligible.

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Find out if you are eligible for a COVID-19 test below:

A COVID-19 test is at a new clinic at Bondi in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Picture: Bianca De Marchi/AAP

CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN VICTORIA

Victoria broadened its testing guidelines for COVID-19 on Monday.

You can now be tested for the coronavirus if you present coronavirus symptoms and are a close contact of someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, who has had a fever, and acute respiratory infection symptoms in the last 14 days.

Also eligible is anyone aged 65 or older, and any Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander people.

People who have been admitted to hospital “where no other cause is identified” are also eligible.

Certain travellers are also eligible, including travellers from overseas with onset of symptoms within 14 days of return and cruise ship passengers or crew with onset of symptoms within 14 days of disembarkation.

Certain members of workforce are also eligible including:

– Paid or unpaid workers in healthcare, residential care, and disability care settings

– People who work in a number of roles in public facing positions in the last 14 days, including homelessness support workers, child protection workers, police officers, firefighters who work in emergency medical response, childcare and early childhood education workers and people who work in primary and secondary schools

Victoria has also identified a number of “high risk settings” where people may be eligible for COVID-19 testing including anyone who works in aged care, disability and other residential care facilities; military operational settings; boarding schools; correctional facilities and detention centres and; settings where COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred.

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CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN NSW

In NSW testing guidelines have been expanded for people living in certain areas.

NSW Health recommends tests be given to returned overseas travellers and their close contacts who have “acute, cold, flu-like symptoms”.

People with symptoms who live in the Sydney suburbs of Waverley, Woollhara, Dee Why, Manly and Ryde. Also included are Broken Hill, Lake Macquarie, Manning, Nowra and South Nowra, Byron Bay and Port Macquarie.

NSW Health advised these areas were being targeted because authorities had detected “local transmission where we haven’t been able to find the source,” Dr Kerry Chant said on Tuesday.

Testing criteria has changed in many states as health officials seek sources of community transmission. Picture: Picture Rohan Kelly

CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN QUEENSLAND

Testing has also been broadened in Queensland, and is now available to anyone in the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cairns to help the state understand community transmission.

Queensland's Health Chief Dr Jeannette Young said after 32 new cases emerged in the state with no known source, the state would broaden its testing guidelines.

Dr Young said anyone presenting with coronavirus symptoms at a fever clinic or GP on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Cairns will now be tested for the virus.

People who work in vulnerable settings are also eligible, including healthcare, aged or residential care, military, correction facilities, detention centres and boarding schools.

CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN THE ACT

In the ACT, a drop in cases has led health leaders to start seeking out undetected cases, with the territory’s acting Chief Health Officer saying the state will start random testing in the community.

Dr Vanessa Johnston said on Monday the state has been looking for cases in high risk environments including healthcare and aged care sectors and that will now be expanded to people who would have otherwise been denied a test.

“While there is currently no confirmed evidence of community transmission in Canberra, expanding our surveillance will assist to detect this early,” Dr Johnston said.

“The steps we take now will lessen the impact on our health system when community transmission does start to occur here in Canberra.”

CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN WA

WA expanded its testing guidelines on April 2.

Anyone in the state who has either a fever of 38 degrees or more, as well as an acute respiratory infection is eligible for a test.

This also extends to people who have travelled overseas or are close contacts of people who have travelled overseas, and have developed coronavirus symptoms.

CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

Patients in the NT are eligible if they have returned from either overseas of interstate in the past 14 days, and develop respiratory symptoms (with or without a fever).

Close contacts of confirmed cases are also eligible for testing.

Territorians with severe community-acquired pneumonia, where there is no clear cause, are also eligible for testing, as are healthcare workers who have respiratory symptoms and fever.

CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

South Australians are urged to only seek testing if they have developed symptoms and meet other criteria.

This includes having travelled overseas in the past 14 days; having travelled interstate in the last seven days; having been in close contact with a confirmed case or; being a healthcare worker with a direct patient contact, and having a fever of 37.5 degrees or more and acute respiratory symptoms.

CORONAVIRUS TESTING IN TASMANIA

In Tasmania testing is recommended for people who have coronavirus symptoms, who fit one or more of the following criteria:

– Having had close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days

– Having travelled interstate in the last 14 days

– Testing is also recommended for healthcare, aged care or residential care workers, or those who work with someone who has had respiratory symptoms.