One family's experience has highlighted the struggle to cope with the mounting COVID-19 crisis.
Greg Biber and his family live in Wollongong's northern reaches at Bulli. They have been isolating after Mr Biber tested positive for COVID last week.
Mr Biber he went for a PCR test on December 30 after taking a RAT that returned a positive result .
After waiting three days - a time he described as "nerve-wracking" - he received confirmation on Sunday he had contracted the virus.
His wife and three children then went for tests earlier this week, but were still awaiting their results on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Biber has been isolating away from his family, although it is difficult to do in a family home with one bathroom.
He said his wife brought him food and drinks to the door of his room, and he wiped down the bathroom after using it.
But the risk that the rest of the family would contract COVID remained and Mr Biber said he had no confidence that any negative results they might receive would still be current days after they had the actual test.
He also said that despite being told via text message that NSW Health would get in contact with him as a confirmed case, he had not heard from the health department - and nor did he expect to, given the number of cases.
Mr Biber said there had been a lack of information on what they should to do.
He has been managing his illness at home by taking paracetamol and drinking plenty of fluids.
The next challenge for the family is to acquire rapid antigen tests so they can leave isolation after the end of the mandatory period.
Retailers in the Illawarra are still experiencing shortages of RATs amid ongoing high demand.
"How do we go out to get these things and sort ourselves out?" Mr Biber said.
He and his family have now turned to a friend travelling from Tasmania and asked her to bring some.
Close contacts, like Mr Biber's family members (should they not test positive from their first screening), need to return a negative result to a RAT six days after their PCR test in order to leave isolation after the seventh day.
People with confirmed COVID infections do not need to take a RAT test and can leave isolation after seven days so long as they have no symptoms.
But Mr Biber said he could not go back out into the community with a clear conscience before he had done another test to ensure he was over the infection.
Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
