Symptoms Protocol

COVID-19 symptoms can include:

• a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your 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 your sense of smell or taste
• shortness of breath
• feeling tired or exhausted
• an aching body
• a headache
• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• diarrhoea
• feeling sick or being sick

The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.

Most people feel better within a few days or weeks of their first COVID-19 symptoms and make a full recovery within 12 weeks. For some people, it can be a more serious illness and their symptoms can last longer.

What to do if your child has symptoms of COVID-19

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

• have a high temperature
• they do not feel well enough to go to school

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 tests positive for COVID-19

There is no longer a requirement to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if your child has symptoms, however if your child has tested positive for COVID-19:

• they must stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day the test was taken - children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults. (adults should try to isolate for 5 days) 
• avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from viruses, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after the day your child took your test