Australia's first cases of COVID-19 was confirmed in January, but months on, people still have questions about the virus.
Can I catch coronavirus from cigarette smoke?
Director of Cabrini Monash University Department of Nursing Research, Philip Russo, said it is unlikely.
“We need to keep in mind that this is an infection that's spread via the droplet route, so those who have close contact with people with the infection are at high risk of getting it,” Associate Professor Russo said.
“It's not generally thought to be distributed through the air and floating around in the air, but if you were to share a cigarette with somebody, certainly that would be one way of spreading the virus, or if you were to share a cigarette lighter."
Cigarette in hand man closeup. Male holding a cigarette. Concept of tobacco day. Source: Getty Images
Do people outside Victoria need to wear masks?
The advice on mask-wearing has changed in Victoria, with it mandatory for everyone in the state to wear a face-covering when they leave home since 2 August, no matter where they live.
Victoria’s chief health officer updated the advice due to new studies on the effectiveness of face masks in reducing transmission of COVID-19.
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When used properly, face masks provide an added layer of protection in situations where it is not always possible to maintain social distancing, such as in a supermarket aisle, on a narrow footpath, or on public transport.
The New South Wales Government is also strongly recommending people wear a mask when it is difficult to maintain 1.5 metres of physical distance from someone, when in areas with community transmission, when caring for vulnerable people, and when working or travelling in a high-risk setting.
Associate Professor Russo said regardless of whether someone wears a mask or not, maintaining social distancing and practising hand hygiene should take precedence.
"The most important intervention is physical distancing, so outside of Victoria where there is still a very low prevalence of infection, I don't see a big need for masks," he said.
But NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday warned against complacency.
"No matter how tough, well-organised and well-resourced we are, we rely on all citizens doing the right thing, all of the time," she wrote in an open letter published in The Sunday Telegraph.
Can I catch coronavirus from someone running past me?
One of the exceptions in Victoria to wearing a mask is for people doing any exercise or physical activity where they're out of breath or puffing, such as running, jogging or cycling.
Associate Professor Russo said there is no need to be concerned about contracting coronavirus from someone who has exhaled heavily while running past you on the street.
"You are at the highest risk if you are in an enclosed space like a small room and in close contact with somebody with the virus," he said.
Source: Pexel
"If we are thinking about outdoor areas, then the risk is greatly reduced because you are outdoors and air currents are likely to take any droplets away from you."
Do I need to wipe down every online shopping package I receive?
Associate Professor Russo said how long the virus lives on packages can differ depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the droplet, and the air temperature.
"It could last for five minutes or it could last for a few hours, so there is no harm in wiping down those packages," he said.
A courier driver unloads packages in Sydney's CBD. Source: AAP
"More importantly, you should be washing your hands after handling any of those packages."
Is Australia's COVIDSafe contact tracing app doing its job?
No one diagnosed with COVID-19 so far in Queensland or South Australia had downloaded the app, while the lack of community transmission in Western Australia meant it had not been much use there either.
Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer Professor Allen Cheng said it had not provided any new information to that state's contact tracers.
"We would not really expect to find contacts through the app because at the moment we are either at work or at home and the contacts are known to us," he said.
"I understand where it has been used, it has generally picked up people that have already been detected by the contact tracers."
But Commonwealth Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said the app had been of use in New South Wales.
"The app is clearly having an important effect," he said.
"Not only did it identify some unknown contacts, 544 of them, in fact, it actually identified an entire exposure event at one particular club in New South Wales that would not have otherwise been found."
What treatments do people with COVID-19 receive in hospital?
Conjoint Professor with the University of Newcastle’s School of Medicine and Public Health and senior staff specialist at John Hunter Hospital, Peter Wark, said it depends on the severity of their condition.
He said the majority of the care provided by hospitals is supportive.
"We provide oxygen, we help people when they are feeling very unwell, we help them with fever and symptoms, but we are not directly treating the virus," he said.
"The exception to that is the use of the immunosuppressive agent, dexamethasone."
A healthcare worker conducts coronavirus screening inside a Melbourne hospital. Source: AAP
"For people who are severe enough to be admitted to hospital and require assistance with oxygen, they will derive a benefit in terms of length of stay and the severity of their illness by receiving that treatment."
He said for those admitted to intensive care, their treatment may also involve non-invasive respiratory support, which is the use of equipment to help with low levels of oxygen.
"Unfortunately a number of people have very severe impairment, requiring what we call invasive ventilatory support with intubation and ventilation," he said.
What are the long-term health effects of COVID-19?
Professor Wark said coronavirus patients who survive their admission to intensive care will often have significant damage to their lungs and extensive periods of weakness, requiring intensive rehabilitation.
"With anybody admitted because of severe respiratory disease to intensive care, it is often a very prolonged hospitalisation and a very prolonged time to recovery with problems that go well past 12 months," he said.
But he said even those with a mild case of the virus can suffer from ongoing problems, such as body aches and fatigue.
"Social media is now fairly replete with individuals describing persistence of symptoms, some unfortunately in excess of 60 days," he said.
"They call themselves 'long-haulers' where they have the persistence of these symptoms and recurrence of these symptoms outside of the impact of direct acute infection as well."
"This is obviously an area that people are going to be very, very interested in, and unfortunately, we're learning as we're going here."
"When we are talking about people who have had symptoms in excess of 60 days, how long that will last? What proportion of individuals? Who is at risk? All of these are really important questions, but at the moment we just do not know."
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People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
