Care and treatment of patients with COVID-19

Free Interpreting Service Priority line for Medical Practitioners and Pharmacies 1300 131 450

Care and treatment of patients with COVID-19

Page last updated 1pm 28 February 2023

On this page:

Latest information 

General practices are being encouraged to focus on care for moderate-risk COVID-19 positive patients. People triaged as moderate risk through the National Coronavirus Helpline and COVID-19 symptom checker  are advised to seek care from their GP, with the vast majority of care being delivered by telehealth. 

SpotOnHealth HealthPathways is your trusted source of up-to-date information on managing COVID-19-positive patients. You can access SpotOnHealth HealthPathways for clinical information on caring for patients with COVID-19 such as

Register here to login to SpotOnHealth HealthPathways.  

As of July 2022, the current model of care provided by Healthdirect enables people who have COVID-19 who are at higher risk of developing severe diseases, or higher risk of getting unwell from COVID-19 — and eligible for antiviral treatment available via the PBS — to be connected with their regular general practitioner (GP) or another general practice.

COVID-19 Oral Treatments

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has expanded the eligibility criteria for Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule-listed COVID-19 oral treatments, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) and Lagevrio (molnupiravir). Treatment is now recommended if commenced within five days of symptoms for the following groups:

  • 70 years and older (including asymptomatic cases)
  • 50 to 69 years of age with 2 additional risk factors
  • First Nations peoples, 30 to 69 years of age with 1 additional risk factors
  • 18+ years of age with moderate to severe immunocompromise. 

Further resources and information on COVID-19 oral treatments useful in prescribing;

Some COVID-19 oral treatments have complex drug interactions which need to be checked. The COVID-19 drug interactions website is a highly recommended tool to use in the first instance. Local pharmacists can assist with further advice, as well as the QMAIS (phone 07 3646 7098 or email QMAIS@health.qld.gov.au).

Long COVID Community Rehabilitation Support Program

Metro South Health is facilitating a program that provides a care pathway for consumers aged 18 years and over experiencing Long COVID-19 symptoms, in an inter-disciplinary care model which is holistic, flexible and patient centered.

This condition is defined as:

  • signs and symptoms that develop during or after an infection consistent with COVID-19,  
  • continue for more than 12 weeks and  
  • are not explained by an alternative diagnosis.   

For more information and the eligibility criteria, visit the Metro South Health referral page.

General practice support 

Telehealth 

The Department of Health has extended the healthdirect Video Call COVID-19 GP Program to 31 December 2022.  We encourage you to continue using this secure video consulting platform, which has been purpose-built for the primary care settings. To register for this service, select the organisation that best represents you: 

Temporary Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item is available to support medical practitioners providing clinically relevant treatment to COVID-19 positive people. The continued arrangements build on the temporary telehealth items introduced as part of the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to enable all Medicare eligible Australians to access telehealth (video and phone) services for a range of out of hospital consultations. 

MBS telehealth items will continue to be available to GPs, medical practitioners, specialists, consultant physicians, nurse practitioners, participating midwives, allied health providers and dental practitioners in the practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery. 
 
View further information  on the MBS Telehealth Services from January 2022 

View the factsheet on additional 10 MBS Mental Health Sessions 

National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce 

The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce aims to provide the best COVID-19 evidence, that supports clinicians to provide the best possible care for Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Taskforce undertakes continuous evidence surveillance to identify and rapidly synthesise emerging research, in order to provide national, evidence-based guidelines for the clinical care of people with COVID-19. 

View Taskforce website 

Priority populations

Information about supporting populations with particular support needs or clinical vulnerability is also available:

  • First Nations peoples – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and people with chronic health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease) are at increased risk of severe disease, hospitalisation or death if they get COVID-19. Health system bodies across the state are working together to ensure that First Nations Queenslanders have access to current, culturally appropriate and localised information.  ​
  • CALD communities – people born overseas are twice as likely to die from COVID. The COVID-19 Multicultural Telehealth Service is available within the greater Brisbane region and  provides support in the patient’s own language via interpreters. 
  • People with disabilities – individuals will be best placed using their current care provider with who they have a relationship, and who knows their clinical history and care requirements. In most instances this is the individual’s General Practitioner (GP).
  • Pregnant and breastfeeding people – infection with COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of severe disease, hospitalisation, admission to intensive care, mechanical ventilation, and death, in pregnant people, and an increased risk of prematurity and stillbirth.​
  • Children – The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has developed some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs)  about COVID-19 in children, vaccines available in Australia, vaccine safety and schooling.

Events and webinars

Register for upcoming events and webinars for the latest information on the COVID-19 response.

Previous event recordings

COVID-19 update for general practice #8 – latest updates on antivirals, vaccine eligibility and the current COVID-19 situation in Queensland

COVID-19 update for general practice #7 – Queensland’s CALD COVID response: Let’s get it right in practice

COVID-19 update for general practice #6 – Winter Readiness: The Coincidence of Influenza and COVID-19

COVID-19 update for general practice #5 – An approach to-end-of life care from the consumer and clinicians’ perspective

COVID-19 update for general practice #4 – managing long COVID, 30 March 2022

COVID-19 update for general practice #3 – what GPs need to know about oral treatments for COVID-19, 21 March 2022

COVID-19: Update for general practice #2, 10 March 2022

COVID-19: Update for Queensland general practice #1, 7 February 2022

Resources 

Clinical practice resources: 

Community resources: