COVID 19 – DELTA VARIANT – symptoms
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ADVICE FOR PARENTS
August 2021
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Protecting your child from COVID-19
Stay at home – Ireland is at level 5.
Read about the current government restrictions on gov.ie
COVID-19 (coronavirus) can affect children as well as adults.
But cases of COVID-19 are much less common in children. Children generally get a milder infection than adults. They often have no symptoms.
Children do not spread the virus more than adults and are rarely the cause of the virus spreading in households.
Read about what to do if your child has symptoms of COVID-19
If you are worried about your child’s health, phone your GP.
Protecting your child
The most important things you can do to protect your child are:
- follow the advice on protecting yourself and others from COVID-19
- look out for symptoms of COVID-19 – if your child has symptoms, isolate your child from other people and phone your GP
- encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and properly
- clean and disinfect surfaces in your home. For example, door handles, TV remotes and the toilet flush.
- follow advice to prevent your child from catching or spreading viral infections
Face coverings and children
Face coverings are not recommended for children under the age of 13. Young children may not be able to follow the advice about wearing a face covering correctly. But they should wear a face covering if their doctor or healthcare worker advises this. For example, when attending a hospital clinic.
Children over 13 should follow the advice for adults around face coverings. They must wear a face covering in shops and on public transport, and should wear a covering when it is difficult to maintain a 2 metre distance from other people.
All secondary school children should wear a face covering in secondary school, even if they are under 13. This is because they are at the same developmental stage as their peers and can follow the advice on using face coverings properly.
How your child should wash their hands
Going to school
All children should go to school unless they:
- have a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more
- have other common symptoms of COVID-19 – a new cough, loss or changed sense of taste or smell, or shortness of breath
- have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19
- live with someone who is unwell and may have COVID-19
- have arrived back into Ireland from certain countries – check gov.ie for the latest travel advice
Read more about symptoms of COVID-19 and when it’s okay to send your child to school or childcare
It is not common for a child to pass the virus on to other children in school. Children who do get the virus, usually get it from adults. This is particularly true for children under the age of 13.
Measures in schools to reduce the risk include:
- hand hygiene
- cleaning measures
- reduced mixing between children
- fewer objects going in and out of school
- face coverings for secondary school students – face coverings are not recommended for younger children
Read support information from gov.ie for parents and children as they return to school
School and children with health conditions
There is no reason a child with any of the following health conditions cannot go to school:
- asthma
- cystic fibrosis
- diabetes
- inflammatory bowel disease
- neurodisability
But children may need to stay away from school if they have:
- recently had a transplant
- severe immunodeficiency from very recent cancer treatment
- unstable or severe cystic fibrosis
Their specialist can advise you if your child needs to take any extra precautions. Contact the specialist and GP straight away if your child gets COVID-19.
School children and adults at higher risk
Children should return to school even if they live with someone who is:
It is important for a child’s overall well-being to go to school. But parents or family members at higher-risk from COVID-19 should take extra care to socially distance from other adults. For example, at school pick up times.
Children with health conditions
Children with underlying health conditions may be vulnerable to any infection. But the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 seems to be low, even if your child has:
- an underlying health condition
- special healthcare needs
If your child has a health condition they and everyone in the family should still:
- be extra careful in watching out for symptoms
- strictly follow the advice on good hygiene and hand washing
Your child should try and keep up their normal activities and go to school. This is good for their overall wellbeing.
If you have concerns about your child’s health condition, ask their specialist team for advice.
A small number of children with COVID-19 have developed an inflammatory syndrome called paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS). This condition is very rare. It mainly affects children who do not have a health condition. Read more about PIMS.
Children with a health condition and symptoms of COVID-19
If your child has a health condition and gets symptoms of COVID-19:
- isolate your child from other people – this means keep them at home and completely avoid contact with other people. This includes other people in your household – read advice on self-isolation
- phone your GP and specialist – they will advise you if your child needs a COVID-19 test
Exercise and play
All indoor and outdoor activities for children should follow public health guidelines.
If you and your child go to a play area:
- follow social distancing guidance – keep 2 metres from other children and adults
- get your child to wash their hands before and afterwards
- use hand sanitiser when hand washing facilities are not available
- make sure your child follows good hygiene practices when coughing or sneezing
Read more about good hygiene and hand washing
Children taking part in sports, youth clubs and other activities
Children can continue non-contact training outdoors. This should be in pods of 15 people. Only individual training is allowed indoors.
If your child moves between parent or carer’s homes
Court orders in relation to access, maintenance and guardianship have not changed. They should still be followed.
If you share parenting or custody arrangements, you can form a support bubble with another household. Read more about support bubbles on gov.ie.
If your child is due to get vaccines (immunisation)
Your child should still get their vaccines as normal.
But if your child has symptoms of COVID-19, they will need to self-isolate. Do not take them to your GP. Phone your GP and they will postpone the vaccines for a few weeks.
When your child is out of self-isolation, phone your GP to make a new appointment.
Read more about vaccines for your child
Get the flu vaccine for yourself and your children early in the autumn. It is available free to all children aged 2 to 12 years and all medically vulnerable children.
If your child visits someone at higher risk from COVID-19
Under current government restrictions, no visitors except for essential family reasons or from people in a support bubble are allowed.
Do not visit someone at very high risk from COVID-19 unless the visit is essential. This includes people over the age of 70. Use your judgement to protect those who are at risk from COVID-19.
Read the visiting advice for people who are at very high risk from COVID-19
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/protecting-your-child.html
