Can my child go to school with a sniffly nose?

[Babyfairy0923]

We haven’t had any guidelines from school?
Well in himself, no temperature, no cough but a sniffly nose & occasional sneezing.
I’m guessing we can’t keep them home for every cold they get if it’s without the Covid symptoms?

Nhs website specifically says kids shouldn’t stay off achool for a cold

Two days back at school and my daughter managed to pick up a cold. She still going to school and we went bowling yesterday, and she had singing lesson yesterday morning- I doublechecked all the rules and regulations before letting her go anywhere, and even went through the NHS111 symptoms checker just in case. It's a very clear cold, so no she's not missing more school for it.

No, don't, not for a runny nose alone. Take a test if you meet the criteria for testing. This is why it's become practically impossible to book one and postal tests are unavailable since schools went back.

This. Times a thousand.

Use your common sense people and don’t just get tests willy nilly for symptoms like runny noses.

If you meet the testing criteria then get a test.

There are massive issues with capacity for tests at the moment. Getting them when you don't have the right symptoms is irresponsible.

Definitely find your school's guidance or Local Authority guidance.

Our school has a zero tolerance policy on any type of illness, on the basis that Covid might not present the same in children, so will send ill children home (and therefore ask you not to send in a child with any illness).

@MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet

Definitely find your school's guidance or Local Authority guidance.

Our school has a zero tolerance policy on any type of illness, on the basis that Covid might not present the same in children, so will send ill children home (and therefore ask you not to send in a child with any illness).

Any type of illness? How is that manageable?

I would plan to send him in but phone school first thing to check their current guidelines on illness.

I think you've got to be realistic. Children get colds regularly. You can't be paranoid. My school says we are to send children home with fever, cough or generally if they are poorly. But school is going to be very strict on hygiene, they must use tissues and wash their hands immediately if they sneeze or cough even if that is every 5 minutes.

@LittleRen Sore throat is not on the UK government's official list of Covid symptoms that require a test. However, the evidence now shows beyond reasonable doubt that sore throat can be a symptom of Covid

Sore throat is not on the list from school so I am unsure what to do.

@HettySunshine

As far as I'm aware (and I may be wrong) as long as there is no:

Sore throat
Continuous cough
Temperature
Change to sense of smell or taste

They can go to school.

Prepared to be corrected though.

Has sore throat been added for testing purposes? (reason I ask is our school have also said no attendance if any of the three or sore throat or fatigue and ZOE sent me for a test with a sore throat and nothing else). I wouldn't send child with a sore throat anyway, but just wondering if I have actually missed some info.

Yes.

When was sore throat added to the recognised Covid symptoms?

Ah, see my question has been answered up thread.

Here is the letter sent to school/parents in Scotland by Prof Jason Leitch

@LittleRen Sore throat is not on the UK government's official list of Covid symptoms that require a test. However, the evidence now shows beyond reasonable doubt that sore throat can be a symptom of Covid

No symptoms
V mild symptoms
Sore throat
Abdominal pain
D+V
Rash
No rash
Covid foot
etc etc etc

All or none of the above CAN be symptoms of Covid.

Which is why I think we need to carry on physical distancing, wearing masks when that is difficult or impossible, wash our hands lots and otherwise Calm Down.

This virus is with us for the duration.
I am trying really hard to not get too despondent about that fact, but my kids need educating, my community needs work and wages and less stress and this is a marathon, not a sprint.

Chris Whitty said that they're sticking with the three symptoms because whilst there are numerous other things that can be a symptom, they're not seen without one of the "three" also present. So yes, you may have a sore throat with Covid, but not without also having e.g. a temperature

@BabySweet85

Get a test?

Do not get a test. There are enough tests to go around, unless everyone keeps getting tests for a snotty nose or headache. The child doesnt have one of the three symptoms, he doesnt need a test or to stay home from school.

I’ve had runny nose, sneezing, wheezing and itchy eyes the last few days. Feels very hayfever like, and they’re actually haymaking in all the fields round here, so I’m making an executive decision that hayfever is what it is.

I say this in the knowledge that DP’s main symptom when he had Covid was sneezing and a runny nose. He also had fatigue, aching limbs though so...

@FinnyStory my son had only a rash. I only had fatigue

Is he getting 10 micrograms of vit d a day ?

No, its just better not to at the moment. Even if its just a cold, you kust dont know.

I personally wouldn’t. Frankly Covid has made me re think my whole approach to illness. This whole acceptance that it’s fine to send a child to school with a cold and pass it on vs the child not going to school etc

@LittleRen

Sore throat is not on the list from school so I am unsure what to do.

How about you just follow the bloody official guidance which does not have sore throat as a reason to test or isolate.

I really do not understand the people that are willing to follow whatever garbage is spouted on here by randoms but won't take a look at the official information or follow the guidance given by their schools.

Fuck sake the level of stupid on here is astounding

@rainbowunicorn is it stupid to look at the World Health Organisation's list of official symptoms and compare them with the NHS's, and wonder why there are so many differences/ additional symptoms?

And is it stupid to want to stop the spread of Covid 19 by isolating / testing if you have a widely acknowledged symptom?

Remember the NHS's list of symptoms has already changed once.