Children can get coronavirus (COVID-19), but they seem to get it less often than adults and it's usually less serious.
Symptoms of coronavirus in children
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high 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 sense of smell or taste – this means they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
What to do if your child has symptoms
If your child has any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:
DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL
- Get a test to check if they have coronavirus as soon as possible.
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You are not required to self-isolate if you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, or are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, and any of the following apply:
- you are fully vaccinated
- you are below the age of 18 years and 6 months
- you have taken part in or are currently part of an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial
- you are not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
Instead, you will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, informed they have been in close contact with a positive case and advised to take a PCR test.
People can register for a test at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus, after checking their symptoms
COVID TESTING SITES
There are 3 types of test sites:
- Remote test sites-drive in only
- Local test sites-walk in
- Mobile test units –these move around every few days.
The test sites are generally open seven days a week from 8am-8pm