OCTOBER 2024 UPDATE

What to do if you have symptoms of COVID-19

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms and either:

• have a high temperature
• do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities

You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.

If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare.

What to do if your child has tested positive for COVID-19:

You are no longer required to do a Covid-19 lateral flow test if you have symptoms.

For children and young people aged 18 and under who test positive for COVID-19, the advice is to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.

Adults with a positive COVID-19 test result are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days, which is when they are most infectious.

What measures should schools be taking to stop the spread?

As well as following the UKHSA guidance signposted, all settings should have in place baseline infection prevention and control measures that will help to manage the spread of infection:

• Reinforcing good hygiene practices such as regular hand washing and cleaning.
• Ensuring occupied spaces are well-ventilated and let fresh air in.
• Ensuring all eligible groups are enabled and supported to take up the offer of national vaccination programmes including COVID-19 and flu 

Reference: NHS, (October 2024), Covid Symptoms & What to do.

.