If your child is showing even one of the main symptoms of coronavirus you should keep them at home.
The main symptoms are:
- A high 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 sense of smell or taste – this means they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Children with mild colds, runny noses, and sore throats without a fever can go to school as usual.
If your child has other chronic health conditions, like cystic fibrosis, make contact with your child’s specialist team and give them a call for further guidance.
Getting tested
If your child has symptoms of coronavirus you should book a test for them as soon as possible.
Your child and your household must self-isolate at home until you have the result of this test.
Find out how to book a test.
Returning to school
If your child’s test is negative, they can go back to school as soon as they feel well enough.
If your child’s test is positive, they will need to continue to isolate for 10 days. The rest of the household and any support bubble will also need to isolate for 14 days. If anyone develops symptoms, they will need to book a test.
After 10 days your child can go back to school, if they do not have any symptoms other than a cough or change to sense of smell or taste. These symptoms can last for weeks after the infection has gone.
If your child still has a temperature after 10 days or feels unwell, they should continue to isolate until the symptoms have gone. They should also wait for 48 hours after the end of any sickness or diarrhoea.