COVID-19

Dear Parent/Carer, 

COVID 19 – Warn and Inform

You have been given this letter as someone in the setting has tested positive for Covid-19. Therefore, we are asking you to be extra careful and monitor your child and your family’s health, looking out for any new symptoms.

Individuals who are identified as a contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in England are now exempt from the legal duty to self-isolate if they meet one of four exemption criteria which are listed below:

1. You are fully vaccinated and have received their final dose of an approved vaccine at least 14 days prior to contact with a positive case.
2. You are under the age of 18 years and 6 months
3. You have taken part in – or are currently taking part in – an approved MHRA vaccine clinical trial 
4. You have a medical exemption and can evidence they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

Individuals who are exempt from self-isolation are advised to take a PCR test as soon as possible, unless they have received a positive PCR test result in the previous 90 days and all individuals identified as contacts of a positive case will continue to be contact traced. 

If your child is identified as a close contact by the National Track and Trace system, then as they are under 18 years and 6 months they will be exempt from the legal duty to self-isolate.  

If your child is aged 4 and under and are identified as a contact they will not be advised to take a PCR test unless the positive case was someone in their own household.

What to do if your child develops any COVID-19 Symptoms

If your child develops any of the symptoms of COVID-19 please get them tested as soon as possible. The symptoms of COVID-19 are:

• a new continuous cough and/or
• high temperature and/or

• a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

Testing can be arranged via https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or by calling 119. 

If you need to seek medical advice

Seek prompt medical attention if your child’s illness is worsening. If it’s not an emergency, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111.

If it is an emergency and you need to call an ambulance, dial 999 and inform the call handler or operator that the patient has coronavirus (COVID-19).

How to stop COVID-19 spreading

There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with COVID-19

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• wash your hands as soon as you get home
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterward

Further Information

The Halton Borough Council website contains information on the range of support that is available for you in these difficult times. https://hbcnewsroom.co.uk/coronaadvice/  Further information is also available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

If you do not have access to the internet, you can also call 0303 333 4300 or 0151 511 5200 If you need help or support. 

I hope you keep safe and well and I thank you for supporting the battle against COVID 19 in Halton.

Yours sincerely,

The Halton Public Health Team,

Halton Borough Council