Children with cold symptoms stay home.

Children with cold symptoms stay home.

Children of primary school age stay home with cold symptoms. Even if the symptoms are mild like sneezing or a runny nose. They can go back to school when the symptoms are gone or after a negative test result. The Outbreak Management Team (OMT) has adjusted the so-called runny nose policy compared to the earlier situation because of the rise of the UK variant of the coronavirus.

For primary school children from 4 to 12 years old, they must stay home with all symptoms matching covid-19 and can get tested. This also applies to cold symptoms (such as runny nose, nasal cold, sneezing, and sore throat). This is not needed if they have occasional cough or known chronic airway complaints, asthma, or hay fever without fever or shortness of breath.

Children who get tested

If children between 4 and 12 years old have been tested, they stay home while waiting for their test result. If it is negative, they can go back to school. If children live with someone who is infected or who has mild covid symptoms plus fever and/or shortness of breath, they stay home.

Children who do not get tested

Children with symptoms who are not tested can return to daycare or school if they have been completely symptom-free for 24 hours. Also, if a child has mild symptoms seven days after the first sick day but still has the same symptoms, they may return to school.

Category 0 to 4 years

For children from 0 to 4 years old, the exception remains that they do not have to stay home with cold symptoms. They can attend daycare and childminder care with cold symptoms.

More information

If you have more questions, call our advice point on weekdays at 088-6050101