Guidance on when to book a coronavirus test for a child

The Chief Nurse and Interim Chief Medical Officer of NHS Test and Trace have issued a letter on when parents and guardians should book a coronavirus (COVID-19) test for their child.

The letter explains that you should only book a test if your child has any of these three coronavirus symptoms: a high temperature, a new continuous cough, and a loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste.

A new high temperature is where a child feels hot to touch on their chest or back (you do not need to measure the temperature).

A new continuous cough is where coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours.
    
Regarding loss of taste or smell, this is a noticeable loss of smell or taste or things smell and taste different to normal.

A child does not need a test if they have a runny nose, are sneezing or feeling unwell but do not have a temperature, cough or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste. This is because these are not normally symptoms of coronavirus.

The letter says that only the person with symptoms should get a test. Members of the household do not have to unless they also have any of the three symptoms listed above. All members of the household need to self-isolate whilst waiting for the test result.

If the person with symptoms’ test comes back positive, other members of their household should continue self-isolating for 14 days and only get a test if they develop coronavirus symptoms.

If a pupil or student in a class or bubble tests positive for coronavirus, anyone who is advised to self-isolate does not require a test unless they subsequently develop symptoms.