We are aware that many students returning to school will get everyday illnesses on their return to school after not mixing for so long. The advice on what to do next is tricky so we have tried to make it as clear as possible for you.
Public Health England has asked us to write to you, to help them ensure that they are able to identify those with coronavirus while avoiding a huge increase in demand for tests from people without coronavirus symptoms.
Students (and staff) should only be tested if they develop one or more of the main coronavirus symptoms, which are:
a high temperature where your temperature is above 37.8C
a new, continuous cough. The guidance says that ‘a new continuous cough is where you cough a lot for more than an hour, or have three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours’
the loss or change of their sense of taste or smell
Note that you do not need all of these symptoms, you just need one of them. To get a test you need to ring 119. You should be aware that once you have asked for a test, the whole household needs to isolate until a negative result is given.
