If Your Child Has Coronavirus Symptoms

Here's what to do If your child is displaying symptoms consistent with the coronavirus (COVID-19)

The symptom/s your child could display is/are:

high temperature – this means they feel hot to touch on their chest or back
new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
loss or change to their sense of smell or taste – this means they've noticed they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

You can use the NHS online service to help you with any questions you have about coronavirus symptoms or telephone 111

The actions you now need to take are:

You must take your child and any siblings home
Your child (showing symptoms) must self-isolate for 7 days
The rest of household must self-isolate for 14 days

Note: for anyone else in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for at least 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14 day isolation period

If your child is aged 5 or over you should arrange for them to be tested for the coronavirus (COVID-19)

If the test is negative please inform the school. Your child/children can then return to school

For children under 5 years old in England and Wales who have symptoms of coronavirus and live with an essential worker (this test must be performed by a parent or guardian)

Covid-19 Testing

Who can ask for a test

You can ask for a test:

for yourself, if you have coronavirus symptoms now (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
for someone you live with, if they have coronavirus symptoms, including children
there is priority testing for essential workers

When to ask for a test

You need to have the test in the first 5 days of having symptoms.

It's best to ask for the test in the first 3 days, as it may take a day or two to arrange.

What the test involves

The test usually involves taking a swab of the inside of your nose and the back of your throat, using a long cotton bud.

You can do the swab yourself or someone can do it for you.

Will I get a test?

There is very high demand for tests at the moment.

People in hospital and essential workers, including NHS and social care staff, are getting priority.

How do I ask for a test?

You can ask for a test online.

You will be asked:

how you want to get the test – you may be able to choose between driving to a regional testing site or getting a home test kit
for details such as your name, mobile phone number and address

We recommend that you select the option of going to a testing site where possible. The test result will be processed more quickly.

Where to have a test

Regional testing sites

A network of drive-through regional testing sites is being established by the government.

Home testing

Home test kits can be delivered to someone’s door so they can test themselves and their family without leaving the house. Home test kit availability will be initially limited, but more will become available.

Mobile testing units

Mobile testing units travel around the UK to increase access to coronavirus testing. They respond to need, travelling to test essential workers at sites including care homes, police stations and prisons.

New units are being brought into operation each day.

Satellite centres

NHS capability is being increased by providing test kits directly to ‘satellite’ centres at places like hospitals that have a particularly urgent or significant need.