Dear Parents and Guardians,

These Covid-19 FAQs should help you decide when to send your children to school and when to keep them at home. The FAQs were prepared by the school in light of changes in national guidelines introduced by the HSE on Monday 20th September.

What are the Covid-19 symptoms?

Please see the list of symptoms at the end of this message. The list remains unchanged since our earlier update.

What should I do if my child has one or more symptoms?

If your child has one or more symptoms of COVID-19, she / he needs to stay at home from school. Phone your family doctor to seek advice as your child may or may not have to go for a test. Your child can return to school after the symptoms disappear. In most cases this will probably be 48 hours.

My child only has nasal congestion, is not ill, is in good form, has good energy and a normal appetite, has no fever, does not require paracetamol, ibuprofen or any other medicine for fever. Can he / she go to school?

Yes. It is important that your child attends school if it is just a nasal congestion. This clarification from the HSE should help clear up a lot of confusion that has led to some children missing out on school.

Covid-19 and the school

If another child in my own child’s classroom tests positive for Covid-19, will my child and all of the class be sent home to isolate for two weeks?

No. Your child and the class will remain in school. Class teaching will continue as normal. A child will only be sent home if he / she shows symptoms. The requirement for close contacts in schools to self-isolate is no longer in operation by the HSE.

Children should only stay at home if they begin to show symptoms.

 If another child in my own child’s classroom tests positive for Covid-19, will I be informed by the school?

No. The school is not legally permitted to share any information about another child.

Covid-19 and the home

Can my child go to school if someone else at home is a close contact?

Yes. Children should only stay at home if they show symptoms.

 Can my child go to school if someone at home tests positive?

No. In this case your child is identified as a close household contact and must stay at home and restrict movements for up to 14 days. Your child will also need to get a Covid-19 test.

 Can my child go to school if the they test negative after getting a Covid-19 test?

No.  Your child remains a close household contact of a confirmed case of Covid-19 and will stay out of school and restrict his / her movements for up to 14 days.

 Can my child go to school if he or she tests positive for COVID-19?

No. If children test positive; they must stay at home from school for…….

  • 14 calendar days from the day they got their positive test result

                                                         OR

  • 10 calendar days from the day they got their positive test result IF they go for a test on Day 10 and test negative.

Getting an early diagnosis means, you can get the help your child needs and take steps to avoid spreading the virus in the school if they have it.

Remind me again of the Covid-19 symptoms.

Common symptoms include:

  • a fever (high temperature – 38 degrees Celsius or above.
  • a new cough – this can be any kind of cough, not just dry.
  • shortness of breath or breathing difficulties.
  • loss or change in your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you
  • cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
  • Fatigue
  • Aches and pains

Uncommon symptoms include:

  • sore throat
  • headaches
  • runny or stuffy noses
  • feeling sick or vomiting
  • diarrhoea