Starting Tomorrow Children with a Runny Nose Will Not Need to get a COVID-19 Test

Thursday, 1 October 2020 14:13

The Province is updating the school and child care screening guidance and starting tomorrow your child will not need to get a COVID-19 test if their only symptom is a runny nose, headache or pink eye.

ONTARIO - The Province of Ontario has updated the COVID-19 school and child care screening guidance.

Starting tomorrow if your child has a runny nose or a headache they will not have to get a COVID-19 test. The school and child care screening guidance is being updated with two sets of questions about symptoms and information to help parents make informed decisions about whether their children should attend school or child care, need to consult a health care provider, or get tested for COVID-19. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams says the guidance can be found immediately at the COVID-19 Screening Tool for Children in School and Child Care, and the refreshed online tool will launch on Friday, October 2 for download.

"Ensuring that children can attend school with minimal interruption is an important part of their healthy growth and development. Based on a review of the current evidence and consulting with paediatric infectious diseases experts, we are updating the list of symptoms in the COVID-19 screening tool for schools and child care to ensure that our children receive the education and care that they need while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission."

The first set of questions asks about symptoms such as fever or cough. Students and children with any of these symptoms will still be advised to stay home until they are able to consult with a health care provider and receive an alternative diagnosis or a negative COVID-19 test.

The second set of questions asks about other symptoms that are commonly associated with other illnesses, such as a runny nose or headache:

- Students and children with only one of these symptoms will be advised to stay home for 24 hours, after which they can return to school or child care if their symptoms are improving.

- Students and children with two or more of these symptoms will be advised to stay home until they are able to consult with a health care provider and receive an alternative diagnosis or a negative COVID-19 test.

In addition, based on the latest public health guidance the symptom list for children in school and child care no longer includes abdominal pain or conjunctivitis (pink eye).