As the way the community lives with COVID-19 changes, so too does the way the local health service supports the community.

Public health clinicians in the Barwon South West have been supporting COVID-19 positive patients at home with antiviral medications and monitoring equipment to protect people who are vulnerable to illness.

Antiviral medications are now available for COVID-19 positive people at risk of severe disease.

Antiviral medications reduce the risk of severe disease, hospital admission and death. They may also reduce the risk of passing on COVID-19 to your household.

These medications must be taken within five days of symptom onset, meaning timing is important to ensuring eligible people receive the medication as fast as possible.

Throughout the pandemic the Barwon South West Public Health Unit (BSWPHU) and Volunteering Geelong have developed a wonderful partnership that is continuing and evolving to support delivery to the most vulnerable people who do not have close family or access to private transport.

In 2021 the two organisations had previously partnered together to provide free transport to vulnerable members of the community to access the community vaccination centre in Norlane.

The partnership continued to evolve to incorporate the delivery of remote monitoring packs along with antiviral medications.

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