HSE advice for parents sending their children back to school

With back-to-school season just around the corner, many of us are wondering if it’s even safe to send our little ones into the classroom. With the new school term and winter months ahead of us, comes the standard cold, flu and other infections which kids pick up so easily. The HSE has given us some advice for parents to take into account given the COVID-19 world we’re living in.

When to keep your child at home and phone your GP

Do not send your child to school or childcare if any of the following are true.

Your child has:

• A temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more.

• Any other common symptoms of coronavirus such as a new cough, loss or changed sense of taste or smell, or shortness of breath.

• Been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.

• Been living with someone who is unwell and may have coronavirus.

You will need to:

1. Isolate your child. This means keeping them at home and completely avoiding contact with other people, as much as possible. Your child should only leave your house to have a test or to see your GP.

2. Phone your GP. They will advise you if your child needs a coronavirus test.

3. Everyone that your child lives with should also restrict their movements, at least until your child gets a diagnosis from their GP or a coronavirus test result. This means not going to school, childcare or work.

4. Treat your child at home for symptoms.

When it’s okay to send your child to school or childcare

It’s usually okay to send your child to school or childcare if they:

• Only have nasal symptoms, such as a runny nose or a sneeze.

• Do not have a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more (as long as their temperature has not been lowered by taking any form of paracetamol or ibuprofen).

• Do not have a cough.

• Have not been in close contact with anyone who has coronavirus.

• Do not live with anyone who is unwell and may have coronavirus.

• Have been told by their GP that their illness is caused by something else, that is not coronavirus. Your GP will tell you when they can return to school or childcare.

• Have got a negative (‘not detected’) coronavirus test result and have not had symptoms for 48 hours.

Most of the time, you do not need to phone your GP if a runny nose or sneezing are your child’s only symptoms. Talk to your pharmacist instead.

Also, this year all children aged 2 to 12 years will be offered the children’s nasal flu vaccine free of charge. See hse.ie/flu for more details.