Leading telehealth service helps fight against COVID, with 36% of patients presenting with respiratory and virus symptoms.
Continued lockdowns and restrictions have meant that Aussies with respiratory symptoms are facing challenges accessing in-person GP services, even in areas without COVID cases. Due to this, telehealth services are entering the battle against COVID-19, seeing more patients with respiratory and virus symptoms than ever before.
Recent patient data from a leading telehealth service has revealed that consultations with patients presenting respiratory symptoms have increased significantly this year (149 per cent), when compared with 2020.
Dr Andrew Thompson is a registered doctor at InstantScripts, a leading online service providing alternative primary healthcare options to those who have difficulty accessing a doctor due to cost, location or residency status. He personally consults to nearly 100 patients a week and directs an average of 20 get COVID tested each week.
InstantScripts’ own patient data reveals that 36 per cent of its overall consultations are with patients presenting respiratory symptoms, suggesting risks of contracting COVID remain high in Australian communities. Specifically, consultations with patients presenting respiratory symptoms have increased by 149 per cent on 2020.
Dr Thompson says: “It is promising to see that Aussies are doing their part to stop the spread of COVID by turning to telehealth for reassurance and advice. Many of the patients I’ve seen are diligently seeking tests prior to consultations, especially if they are experiencing respiratory symptoms. If we continue this trajectory, the country could fall into a good rhythm of successfully managing COVID and I can see the promising future we had a taste of earlier this year.”
Dr Thompson warns it is still a challenge to separate COVID symptoms from that of a common viral or bacterial infection and, now that we’ve entered spring, respiratory symptoms are likely to increase among Aussies. He explains that while the Delta variant is highly infectious, original strains of COVID-19 remain and are still able to be contracted.
While symptoms such as headache, fever, sore throat, and persistent cough are common across the COVID variants, including the Delta strain, and other viral infections, loss of smell and taste is unique to COVID. Dr Thompson says that a runny nose was rarely reported in earlier strains of COVID, however it appears to be more common in the Delta variant, suggesting COVID symptoms are evolving.
Dr Thompson says: “Not only is the Delta strain more infectious, but the symptoms are now more commonly aligned with common viral infections and your run-of-the-mill cold. While Aussies commonly experienced a loss of taste and smell and a cough when diagnosed with earlier strains of COVID, a runny nose, headache and sore throat is now more commonly associated with Delta. With the highly infectious nature of Delta and its often indistinguishable characteristics to common viral infections, some Aussies may be going days without seeking a test and could naturally assume they are simply experiencing a cold or flu.”
He adds: “It is promising that we are seeing a high vaccination rate in many communities across the country. This means we could expect to see milder COVID cases in the near future. We still have a long way to go, with just over 40 per cent of the country fully vaccinated and consistent mutations of the COVID virus, such as the Mu variant, bringing new challenges and obstacles to face each day. I urge Aussies, particularly those in lockdown, to remain vigilant. COVID symptoms can be broad and impact people differently. Some experts have also found patients testing positive for COVID days before experiencing symptoms. I encourage Aussies not to delay COVID tests and continue seeking telehealth consultations and advice, even for the mildest symptoms or if they are asymptomatic but believe they are risk of exposure.”
Signs of COVID
Dr Thompson shares his top signs of a possible COVID infection.
- Fever. This is one of the most common COVID symptoms and often the first sign of COVID – while the flu typically begins with a cough, the first symptom of COVID is often fever. A temperature of 37.5C or higher may warrant a COVID test.
- Lingering cough. Persistent coughing is another common COVID symptom that Aussies should look out for.
- Shortness of breath. This symptom isn’t typically associated with the common cold or flu; however, it is known to be a common COVID symptom.
- Runny nose. While not as common in earlier strains of COVID, a runny nose is commonly associated with the Delta strain, which has been estimated to be 50 per cent more infectious.
- Temporary loss of taste or smell. Another symptom unique to COVID, a study found that loss of taste or smell can sometimes appear before the emergence of other symptoms.
- Muscle, joint or chest pain. These symptoms have been known to manifest after people experience a fever or cough.
- Headaches. A symptom commonly associated with several strains of COVID, including the Delta variant.
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms can sometimes arise after respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough, and can point to a COVID infection.
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