In response to some queries received about responding to a case of COVID19 in different scenarios, please see below advice from public health, which helps to clarify:
If an individual develops symptoms of COVID19, they go into isolation and they get tested:
a) Negative test: they can come out of isolation as can their household contacts
b) Positive test: They isolate for at least 10 days from the onset of their symptoms and their close contacts (including bubble) for 14 days
If one of their contacts develops symptoms within the 14 isolation period and they get a test:
c) Test negative: they have to remain in isolation for any of the remainder of the 14 day
isolation period, as they could still develop COVID19 in those remaining days
d) Test positive: they isolate for 7 days from the onset of their symptoms (this could end before
the original 14 day isolation period is up)
In the case of siblings:
If Child A has coronavirus symptoms then they should be sent home, and their household should follow the guidance on self-isolation. That would include the sibling.
Child A’s sibling’s bubble does not need to self-isolate unless Child A’s sibling develops symptoms and then tests positive.
If Child A receives a negative test, both Child A and the sibling can return to school.
Guidance for households with symptoms
The Government guidance on whole household isolation in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak:
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The symptoms are:
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The full stay at home guidance for households with these symptoms can be found here:
Updated handwashing advice
It is essential that everyone washes their hands more often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Hand washing with soap employs mechanical action that loosens bacteria and viruses from the skin, rinsing them into the drain. Drying hands afterwards makes the skin less hospitable to the virus. Hand sanitiser can be effective if soap is not available or the situation makes using soap less feasible (i.e. when outside) but using hand sanitiser provides none of the virus-destroying friction that rubbing your hands together and rinsing with water provides.
The latest guidance and video on hand washing can be found at:
The e-Bug project is led by Public Health England and has a dedicated webpage for learning resources on hand washing and respiratory hygiene. Resources are currently available for KS1, KS2 and KS3 and can be used in various settings including schools and at home:
· https://e-bug.eu/
Department for Education coronavirus helpline
The Department for Education coronavirus helpline is available to answer questions about COVID-19 relating to education and children’s social care. Staff, parents and young people can contact this helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Opening hours:
8am to 6pm – Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm – Saturday and Sunday
Where to find the latest information
Updates on COVID-19: