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Directions under the Public Health Act
What you must do under new coronavirus rules
Easy Read version
What is coronavirus?
Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus that has
affected many people around the world.
A virus is an illness or disease that
can spread easily from one person
to another person.
Coronavirus is spreading quickly.
Coronavirus is a pandemic.
A virus becomes a pandemic when
it spreads quickly to lots of countries
around the world.
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Directions to protect public health
The Minister for health has made some
Directions to protect public health.
The Directions are rules for everyone to
follow so we can:
• look after our health
• protect the community
• stop the spread of coronavirus.
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The Directions affect:
• when you can leave your home
• how many people you can meet with
in a public place
• what facilities and businesses can
be open
• what facilities and businesses must
be closed.
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Things you must do
The Directions talk about things you
must do.
You must stay at home unless you have a
good reason to leave.
You should only leave your home to do
things you really need to do, such as:
• go to work
• go to school
• shop for food
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• shop for things you really need
• get medical care
• get medical supplies
• get social, disability or community
care you need
• exercise.
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Things you should do to protect your health
If you leave your home, you should stay at
least 1.5 metres away from other people.
You should wash your hands with soap and
water many times during the day.
You should also keep in touch with your:
• family
• friends.
But you should keep in touch:
• by phone
• through social media
• with video calls.
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Other reasons you can leave your home
Some people might need to leave their
home for other reasons.
These reasons are to:
• keep them safe
• protect them from injury
• stop them getting sick
• deal with an emergency
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• take children to childcare
• care for another person who
needs support.
If you are not safe in your home, you can
get family and domestic violence support.
Family and domestic violence is when you
are hurt by someone close to you, such as:
• your boyfriend or girlfriend
• your husband or wife
• a member of your family
• someone who takes care of you.
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You can call our Domestic Violence
Line anytime.
1800 65 64 63
You can also leave your home to go to
a wedding.
But only 5 people can be at the wedding:
• the couple being married
• the celebrant
• 2 witnesses.
And you can leave your home to go to
a funeral.
But only 10 people can be at the funeral.
It is ok for the people who run the funeral
to be there too.
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You can leave your home if you are moving
into a new home.
You can travel between your homes if you
live in more than 1 place.
You can leave your home to donate blood.
You must still do things if they are given
to you under the law, such as:
• visiting a police station:
o as part of bail conditions
o for any other good reason
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• helping a parent see children who
don’t live with them under:
o a Family Court order
o another care order.
You can leave your home to get services
you need such as:
• social or community services
• disability services
• employment services
• services for victims, including
victims of crime
• domestic violence services
• mental health services.
You can leave your home to:
• visit your children if they live with their
other parent
• take your children to see their
other parent.
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You can leave your home if you are a:
• priest
• minister
• leader in a religious group.
But you can only leave your home to:
• go to a place of worship
• give members of your community
care and support.
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If you feel sick
A symptom is a sign that you might be sick.
You might:
• see symptoms
• feel symptoms.
The symptoms of coronavirus are:
• fever
• sore throat
• cough
• shortness of breath.
If you have any of these symptoms,
you should get medical attention.
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If you have any of these symptoms, and
have been overseas in the last 14 days,
you should get medical attention.
You can call the National Coronavirus
Helpline. The Helpline is open 24 hours a day.
1800 020 080.
You can contact your own doctor or Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
You can visit the emergency department
at a hospital near where you live.
You can call 000 if you have a medical
emergency.
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Word List
Directions
The Directions are rules for everyone
to follow so we can:
• look after our health
• protect the community
• stop the spread of coronavirus.
Pandemic
A virus becomes a pandemic when it spreads
quickly to lots of countries around the world.
Symptom
A symptom is a sign that you might be sick.
You might:
• see symptoms
• feel symptoms.
Virus
A virus is an illness or disease that can spread
easily from one person to another person.
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How can you get more information?
• 13 77 88 (Service NSW)
• 1800 020 080 (National Coronavirus Helpline)
You can call us:
• 24 hours a day
• 7 days a week.
www.nsw.gov.au
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