If you are over 70, over 50 with additional risk factors, over 30 and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander with 1 additional risk factor, or over 18 with moderate to severe immunocompromise, please contact a doctor ASAP (book an urgent telehealth consultation) as there are oral antiviral medications you may be eligible for if you are PCR positive or have a medically verified positive Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

PBS funding is available for:

Adults 70 years of age or older, with mild to moderate Covid-19 confirmed by a PCR or medically verified RAT, can be prescribed PBS-subsidised anti-virals by a doctor or authorised nurse practitioner where:

• treatment is commenced within 5 days of the onset of symptoms, or
• treatment is initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis is confirmed where asymptomatic

For adults 70 years of age or older, no further risk factors for progression to severe disease are required for PBS eligibility

Also, adults with mild to moderate Covid-19 confirmed by a PCR or medically verified RAT can be prescribed PBS-subsidised anti-virals by a doctor or authorised nurse practitioner if treatment is commenced within 5 days of the onset of symptoms for:

• People 50 years of age or older, with additional risk factors for developing severe disease;
• People 30 years of age or older, identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, with one additional risk factor for developing severe disease; and
• People 18 years of age or older, with moderate to severe immunocompromise;

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander adults under age 30 and other adults under age 50 are not eligible for PBS subsidised treatment, unless they have a moderate to severe immunocompromising condition.

Without PBS funding (i.e., on a private script) the price is $800 – $1000

Depending upon the severity of your case, your vaccination status and your underlying vulnerabilities, care may be offered to you in hospital, in a QHealth funded hospital-in-the-home model (you are looked after at home by a QHealth hospital based team who may or may not visit you at home) or you may be asked to check in with a doctor​

If you are being looked after by a QHealth team, Medicare does not pay for your consultations with a doctor

• this does not mean you can’t have a consultation with a doctor, but you will have to pay for it and there won’t be any Medicare rebate to help offset the cost
• if you are cared for by QHealth, there will come a time where they will discharge you from their care and a doctor will pick up from there​

If you are well enough not to require a QHealth response, but looking for advice, please let a doctor know so you can access help