New Covid-19 guidelines suggest that children under the age of 12 attending sleepovers must self isolate and miss school if they were staying in a house where a positive Covid-19 case was detected.
These children will then be considered a close contact.
As reported by The Irish Times, the HSE has explained that households are a much higher risk when it comes to spreading the virus than schools are.
Therefore, parents need to be extra careful when allowing their little ones attend sleepovers, or hosting ones in their own home.
A child is a household contact if they were staying overnight with family or friends, and a member of that household had Covid-19 at the time of the sleepover and was infectious.
“This may be in their own home or someone else’s home, for example, children who may have been on sleepovers with family or friend,” the HSE explained in a new advisory document circulated to school principals and childcare managers.
Becoming a household close contact, the child will then have to self isolate and stay home from school.
This news follows the easing of restrictions surrounding primary school children and the close contact protocol.
Earlier in the week it was confirmed that unvaccinated primary school children who are considered to be a close contact will no longer need to isolate, miss school or get Covid tested as long as they’re symptom free.
The restriction will be officially eased on Monday, September 27. Parents have now been advised though that this rule does not apply for those children considered to be household contacts.
