Common cold and COVID-19 symptoms?
We know that parents and schools are finding it difficult to work out which symptoms warrant testing for COVID-19. We acknowledge that this is not straightforward, and it is a really challenging time for parents and schools.
It is common for colds and similar viral infections to circulate across communities at this time of year. In many cases, children will be well enough to attend school and continue their learning with little or no interruption to their education. It is important to ensure that children are not unnecessarily kept away from school and exposed to inappropriate testing for COVID-19.
COVID-19 symptoms
If your child (or anyone in the household) has any of the main coronavirus symptoms listed below they need to self-isolate and get a test.
Common cold symptoms
Children with simple cold symptoms such as a runny nose or sore throat or a mild cough without a fever who would normally have attended school in other times should go to school and do not be tested for COVID-19.
COVID-19 (coronavirus) absence:
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A quick guide for parents / carersWhat to do if… |
Action needed |
Back to school… |
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…my child has COVID-19 (coronavirus) symptoms* |
•Child shouldn’t attend school •Child should get a test •Whole household self-isolates while waiting for test result •Inform school immediately about test results
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…when child’s test comes back negative |
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…my child tests positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus) |
•Child shouldn’t attend school •Child self-isolates for at least 10 days from when symptoms* started (or from day of test if no symptoms) •Inform school immediately about test results •Whole household self-isolates for 14 days from day when symptoms* started (or from day of test if no symptoms) -even if someone tests negative during those 14 days
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…when child feels better, and has been without a fever for at least 48 hours They can return to school after 10 days even if they have a cough or loss of smell / taste. These symptoms can last for several weeks once the infection is gone. |
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…somebody in my household has COVID-19 (coronavirus) symptoms* |
•Child shouldn’t attend school •Household member with symptoms should get a test •Whole household self-isolates while waiting for test result •Inform school immediately about test results
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…when household member test is negative, and child does not have COVID-19 symptoms* |
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…somebody in my household has tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus) |
•Child shouldn’t attend school •Whole household self-isolates for 14 days from day when symptoms* started (or from day of test if no symptoms) -even if someone tests negative during those 14 days
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…when child has completed 14 days of self-isolation, even if they test negative during the 14 days |