Home-care guidelines for patients with COVID-19

Managing symptoms and medicines

Home-care guidelines for patients with COVID-19
  1. Additional resources
  2. Acknowledgements
  3. Disclaimer

Refer to the latest National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce living guidelines and clinical flowcharts for the management of adults with mild and moderate–severe COVID-19.

  • Make sure the patient continues to receive care for pre-existing conditions:
    • Use inhaled or oral steroids for the management of people with co-existing asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and COVID-19 as you would normally for viral exacerbation of asthma or COPD. Do not use a nebuliser10
    • Do not discontinue angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers in patients already receiving these medications unless contraindicated11
    • In people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, the use of other treatments such as insulin, other diabetes medications, or statins should continue as usual5
    • In patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, only cease or change the dose of long-term immunosuppressants, such as high-dose corticosteroids, chemotherapy, biologics or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, on the advice of the treating specialist5
    • In patients who have COVID-19 and who are taking oestrogen-containing contraception or who are taking oral menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), manage these medications as per usual care12. Patients should not need to stop their gender-affirming hormone therapy13

Determine the patient’s eligibility for oral antiviral COVID-19 treatments (Lagevrio (molnupiravir) and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir)) or other treatments that are recommended by the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce for patients who have mild-moderate illness and who do not require oxygen. 

The initiation of these medicines is time-critical. Lagevrio (molnupiravir) and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir) must be commenced within five days of symptom onset, so early assessment and intervention are vital. This could be done in collaboration with the commissioned triaging health service, hospital or infectious disease specialists. 

Adults who have mild to moderate COVID-19 confirmed by a PCR or medically verified RAT and who can start treatment within five days of symptom onset, can be prescribed PBS-subsidised Lagevrio (molnupiravir) or Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir) if (excluding contraindications):

  • they are 70 years of age or older*
  • they are 50 years of age or older with two other risk factors for severe disease
  • they identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin, and are 30 years of age or older with one other risk factor for severe disease; or
  • they are 18 years of age or older and moderately to severely immunocompromised.14,15

More information on Lagevrio (molnupiravir) and Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir) is available on the RACGP website.

*in people aged 70 years of age and above treatment can be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis is confirmed even if the patient is asymptomatic. 

An antipyretic is generally not required for mild COVID-19, but paracetamol or ibuprofen, as appropriate, can be considered for symptomatic relief. If a patient takes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for a chronic condition, they should continue taking these.5
  • When appropriate, consider simple interventions for mild symptoms according to clinical judgement:
    • intranasal decongestants, isotonic nasal/sinus rinse or intranasal ipratropium for rhinosinusitis
    • keep air warm and humid
    • manage hydration carefully through small regular sips of fluid, and consider oral rehydration salts
  • Do not prescribe treatments that are not recommended by the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, including ivermectin.
  • Do not routinely use dexamethasone (or other systemic corticosteroids) to treat COVID-19 in adults who do not require oxygen. However, patients can be discharged from hospital on these, and the GP might need to manage the weaning of such medications, as per the discharge instructions/summary.
  • Patients with asthma or COPD should refer to their action plan to guide the use of relievers and when to escalate.16
  • Patients with diabetes should follow their sick day plans (or have a sick day plan developed), check blood glucose levels (BGLs) more frequently and call for medical advice if BGLs are unstable (noting some patients might be discharged from hospital on oral steroids post-admission for COVID-19).
  • Consider pharmacological management of drug or alcohol dependencies if withdrawal is likely during isolation.
  1. Communicable Diseases Network Australia. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): CDNA National guidelines for public health units. Version 6.7. Canberra: Department of Health, 2022 Content/cdna-song-novel-coronavirus.htm [Accessed 13 May 2022].
  2. Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Clinical guidance for COVID-19 vaccine providers. Canberra; ATAGI, 2022 [Accessed 13 May 2022].
  3. Department of Health. How COVID-19 vaccines work. Canberra, 2022 vaccines/how-they-work [Accessed 19 may 2022].
  4. Rees S, Fisher J. COVID-19 and the mental health of people from refugee backgrounds. Int J Health Serv 2021;50(4):415–17. doi: 10.1177/0020731420942475. [Accessed 19 may 2022].
  5. National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce. Management of adults with mild COVID-19 (version 42.1). Melbourne, 2022 [Accessed 19May 2022].
  6. Community Health Pathways – NSW Collaboration. COVID-19 Active Case Management, 2022. [Accessed 19May 2022].
  7. National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce. Pathways to care for adults with COVID-19 (version 4.2). Melbourne: National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, 2022 [Accessed 19 May 2022].
  8. Agency for Clinical Innovation. Caring for adults and children in the community with COVID-19. Sydney: NSW Health, 2022 [Accessed 19 May 2022].
  9. National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce. Pathways to care for children and adolescents with COVID-19 (version 2.1). Melbourne: National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, 2022 [Accessed 19 May 2022].
  10. National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce. Steroids for people with asthma or COPD and COVID-19. Melbourne: National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, 2022 [Accessed 19 May 2022].
  11. National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce. ACEIs/ARBs in patients with COVID-19. Melbourne: National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, 2022 [Accessed 19 May 2022].
  12. National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce. Oestrogen-containing therapies. Melbourne: National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, 2022 [Accessed 10 June 2022].
  13. Cagnacci A, Bonaccorsi G, Gambacciani M, Board of the Italian Menopause Society Collaborators. Reflections and recommendations on the COVID-19 pandemic: Should hormone therapy be discontinued? Maturitas, 2020;138:76–77. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2020.05.022. [Accessed 10 June 2022].
  14. Australian Government Department of Health. Lagevrio (molnupiravir) PBS Factsheet. Canberra: DoH, 2022 [Accessed 15 June 2022]
  15. Australian Government Department of Health. Paxlovid® (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Factsheet. Canberra: DoH, 2022 [Accessed 15 June 2022]
  16. National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce. Corticosteriods (systemic) for adults. Melbourne: National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, 2022 [Accessed 19 May 2022].
  17. Australian Government Department of Health. Guidance on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care workers in the context of COVID-19. Canberra: DoH, 2021 [Accessed 19 May 2022].
  18. Infection Control Expert Group. Information about cleaning and disinfection for health and residential care facilities. Canberra: Australian Government, 2020 coronavirus-covid-19-environmental-cleaning-and-disinfection-principles-for- health-and-residential-care-facilities-coronavirus-covid-19-environmental- cleaning-and-disinfection-principles-for-health-and-residential-care-fac.pdf [Accessed 19 May 2022].
  19. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Melbourne: RACGP, 2021. A message for pregnant women and their families information-for-pregnant-women [Accessed 19 May 2022]
  20. National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce. Pregnancy and Perinatal care. Melbourne: National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, 2022 [Accessed 19 May 2022].
  21. The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. Clinical Practice Guidelines – COVID-19. Melbourne: The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, 2021 [Accessed 19 May 2022].
  22. National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce. Management of people with COVD-19 who are older and living with frailty and/or cognitive impairment (version 5.0). Melbourne: National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce, 2021 [Accessed 18 May 2022].

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