Dear Parents/Carers,
In the light of some recent cases and some uncertainty about how to respond, please find here-
Some more guidance for parents trying to assess child’s symptoms/ whether child should come to school
If children display any or all of these symptoms they should isolate and get a PCR test:
- New continuous cough (this means coughing a lot for more than 1 hour or 3 or more coughing episodes over 24 hours).
- Temperature
- Changes to taste and smell (cannot smell or taste anything or things taste different to normal).
Symptoms do not include runny nose, intermittent coughing associated with having a cold (clearly this is a grey area so please use your judgement).
Parents and settings should not try and ‘second guess’ diagnosis [e.g. “a cough due to hayfever”] –if child has the key symptoms, they should isolate and test.
If child tests negative to COVID-19, they still need to remain at home and only return when they have been fever free for 24 hours and/or feel better.
If child tests positive, they will need to isolate for 10 days from the point at which symptoms began.
If another child in the class tests positive, your child does not need to isolate but we ask that you stay extra vigilant about possible symptoms above and get your child to take lateral flow tests regularly. You may however be contacted by Track and Trace and also asked to get your child a PCR. We are now taking the decision to contact you if someone in your child’s class tests positive. We may receive further guidance about this soon. That said all parents should remain vigilant regarding symptoms.
If another family member tests positive, your child does not need to isolate but again we ask that you stay extra vigilant about possible symptoms above and get your child to take lateral flow tests daily. You may however be contacted by Track and Trace and also asked to get your child a PCR.
All of the above is in line with our existing risk assessment and guidance from up on high-please see https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/coronavirus-in-children/.
We will update you immediately guidance changes.