COVID-19 is a new, or novel, strain of virus in the coronavirus family that has not been previously identified. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

COVID-19 was discovered in 2019 when a higher than normal number of people in Wuhan, China, started to get pneumonia after having an illness similar to the flu. When doctors tested them, they found these people had a type of coronavirus they hadn’t seen before.

There were already lots of types of coronavirus in the world, but this one was new. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, which means it affects the parts of your body you use to breathe: your nose, throat and lungs. If you’re sick with COVID-19, your symptoms might include: fever, a cough, sore throat, fatigue or shortness of breath.

COVID-19 spreads between people, usually when a sick person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can enter your body through the mucous membranes (wet parts) of your face – your eyes, nose and mouth – which provide a direct pathway to your throat and lungs. The good news is that it can’t get in through other parts of your body like your skin or your hair, but you might be surprised just how easily it can get to the mucous membranes of your face.

First of all, the droplets from someone’s cough or sneeze might fall directly into your eyes, nose or mouth if you’re close enough to the infected person, letting the virus enter your system straight away. Or, the droplets might fall onto a surface where you then put your hands.

If you don’t wash your hands, you could move the virus into your eyes, nose or mouth and become infected. The infected person might also get the droplets on their hands if they cough or sneeze into them, and then place them on a surface, where you pick them up. Direct membrane-to-membrane contact can also spread the virus. This could happen by kissing. The virus can also be spread by sharing items that go in your mouth, eyes or nose, like cutlery, cups, straws, water bottles or cosmetics.

Can COVID-19 spread through the air?

So far, studies show that people are mainly catching COVID-19 through these droplets, rather than the virus hanging out in the air. This is good news, because it means if an infected person is in a room, breathes for a while, then leaves the room, the virus isn’t lurking in the air waiting for the next person to come in. If with further study we find out this information has changed, we’ll let you know.

To keep our staff and patients safe, you may only bring one support person to outpatient appointments across all Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health facilities from 26 March 2020. Please speak to our staff if you have questions.

If you are unwell and have an appointment scheduled, please contact reception and we will contact you within 14 days to discuss rescheduling your appointment.

If you have a scheduled appointment, and you have not heard directly from the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS), you should still attend as normal.

Please note:

• If we must reschedule your appointment you will not lose your place.
• All urgent appointments will proceed, either face-to-face or virtually.
• If your condition worsens during this period, seek advice from your GP.

A drive-through COVID-19 community assessment clinic was opened in the eastern carpark of the 1300 Smiles Stadium in Kirwan to allow easier access and throughput for our community.

The clinic will operate from 8.30am until 6pm, seven days a week.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Coronairus (COVID-19) it is best to contact: 

13 HEALTH
13 HEALTH is a confidential phone service that provides health advice to Queenslanders. You can phone and talk to a registered nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the cost of a local call.

Ph: 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84)

Coronavirus Health Information Line
Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19). The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Ph: 1800 020 080