CORONAVIRUS ADVICE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS
We appreciate that parents/carers may have lots of questions in relation to Coronavirus since the change in guidance. Please see below some frequently asked questions compiled by the local Public Health Team which we hope you will find helpful.
These answers are based on the latest guidance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Department for Education (DFE).
Q1 My child has symptoms of a respiratory infection - should they be in school?
Children with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or mild cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend their education or childcare setting.
Children who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and where possible, avoid contact with other people. They can return to school when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough.
Q2 My child is generally unwell and has produced a negative test - what should we do?
Regardless of the negative test result, if your child is unwell and has a high temperature they should not attend until their temperature has returned to normal. If your child is unwell and has a high temperature, we can refuse attendance if it is considered necessary to protect others from possible infection.
Q3 My child has had a positive COVID-19 test result – what should we do?
It is not recommended that children are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
If, however, your child has had a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
Children who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend school as normal.
These answers are based on the latest guidance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Department for Education (DFE).
Q1 My child has symptoms of a respiratory infection - should they be in school?
Children with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or mild cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend their education or childcare setting.
Children who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and where possible, avoid contact with other people. They can return to school when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough.
Q2 My child is generally unwell and has produced a negative test - what should we do?
Regardless of the negative test result, if your child is unwell and has a high temperature they should not attend until their temperature has returned to normal. If your child is unwell and has a high temperature, we can refuse attendance if it is considered necessary to protect others from possible infection.
Q3 My child has had a positive COVID-19 test result – what should we do?
It is not recommended that children are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
If, however, your child has had a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
Children who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend school as normal.
CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:
The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.
- a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- an aching body
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick or being sick
The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.
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