National Triage Protocol
A number of members have asked what the current national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection is in the context of new MBS telehealth items – noting the Government’s requirement to bulk bill telehealth services for patients who meet these criteria.
In this regard the Department of Health has advised that the national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection is as follows:
A suspect case is a person who meets the following epidemiological and clinical criteria:
Epidemiological criteria | Clinical criteria | Action |
Very high risk Close contact in the 14 days prior to illness onset with a confirmed or probable case
International travel in the 14 days prior to illness onset
Cruise ship passengers and crew who have travelled in the 14 days prior to illness onset | Fever (≥38°C) or history of fever OR acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat) | Test |
High risk setting Two or more plausibly linked cases of illness clinically consistent with COVID-19 (see clinical criteria) in the following settings:
People who, in the 14 days prior to illness onset lived in or travelled through a geographically localised area with elevated risk of community transmission, as defined by public health authorities | Fever (≥38°C)1 or history of fever (e.g. night sweats, chills) OR acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat) | Test (on site for aged care residents, where feasible) |
Moderate risk Healthcare workers, aged or residential care workers | Fever (≥38°C) or history of fever (e.g. night sweats, chills) OR acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat) | Test |
Background risk (No epidemiological risk factors) | Hospitalised patients with fever (≥38°C) AND acute respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat) of an unknown cause | Test |
