A reminder of the latest guidance related to Covid-19

What to do if someone has Covid symptoms or someone tests positive for Covid-19: 

The main symptoms of Covid-19 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

What to do if your child has symptoms: 

If your child has any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, even if they're mild: 

1. Get a PCR test (test that is sent to a lab) to check if they have COVID-19 as soon as possible. 
2. Your child should stay at home and not have visitors (self-isolate) until you get the test result – they can only leave home to have the test. 

What to do if someone tests positive for Covid-19: 

The information below has been copied from the latest government guidance for schools: 

‘Close contacts will now be identified via NHS Test and Trace and education settings will no longer be expected to undertake contact tracing.  As with positive cases in any other setting, NHS Test and Trace will work with the positive case and/or their parent to identify close contacts. Contacts from a school setting will only be traced by NHS Test and Trace where the positive case and/or their parent specifically identifies the individual as being a close contact.  

Individuals are not required to self-isolate if they live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply: 

• they are fully vaccinated 
• they are below the age of 18 years and 6 months 
• they have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial 
• they are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons 

Instead, they will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test.  We would encourage all individuals to take a PCR test if advised to do so. 

Staff who do not need to isolate, and children and young people aged under 18 years 6 months who usually attend school, and have been identified as a close contact, should continue to attend school as normal.’