Antigen testing from 29th November

 

Covid-19 in the Home

  1. My child is showing one or more symptoms. Does he go to school?

No. If a child displays any symptoms of COVID-19 they should self-isolate immediately and you should arrange a        PCR test without delay.

The symptoms are listed at the end of this information note.

If the PCR test is negative, your child can return to school.

If the PCR test is positive, tell the school principal immediately. Your child must stay at home for 14 calendar days.          The 14-day count starts on the day he / she got the positive result.

  1. 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.

 

  1. My child is not showing any symptoms BUT he is a close contact of a positive case. What do I do?

Buy antigen tests in your local pharmacist. Your child will need three antigen tests every second day across for              five days if s/he continues to show no symptoms – day zero, day 2 and day 4. Please carefully follow the instructions on the Antigen test kit.

While all this is going on your child can continue to attend school as long as they continue to show no symptoms (remain asymptomatic) and their antigen test results continue to remain negative.

If the antigen test is positive at any stage, your child must isolate at home and you must arrange a PCR test. Inform the school principal.

 

Covid-19 in the School

  1. If you receive a positive PCR test result on their child, tell the school principal immediately.
  2. The school principal will inform the parents of the children in the case’s pod that they are close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case. The name of the case or any other details will not be shared.

A pod is a small group of children sharing the same desks.

  1. The school principal will identify the children in the case’s pod, and inform their parents, offering the opportunity to order antigen tests from the distribution company.
  2. The antigen tests will be posted by the HSE to the parents of the children in the pod. The tests will be provided free.
  3. Parents carry out the antigen test on the day that they receive it and every second day until three tests have been done – day zero, day 2 and day 4.

Children in the pod can continue to attend school as long as they show no symptoms and their antigen test results remain negative.

If an antigen test is positive at any stage, your child must isolate at home and you must arrange a PCR test. Inform the school principal.

Note: In a case where two or more cases arise in a class, within a seven-day period, outside of a single pod, antigen testing will be offered to the full class.

Covid19 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