Dear Parent/Guardian,
Please see below important information regrading changes made to contract tracing of asymptomatic close contacts in children >3months - 13 years. These guidelines come into effect from today Monday 27th Sept 2021
As per updated contact tracing guidance Contact tracing under 13s.pdf (hpsc.ie), it is now recommended that:
Anyone who has symptoms of Covid-19 should self-isolate at home immediately and contact their GP for advice and guidance, and to arrange a Covid-19 test if appropriate.
All children should attend for vaccination when eligible.
Automatic contact tracing is no longer recommended for children aged > 3months to under 13 years of age who are asymptomatic but were close contacts of cases outside of household settings and vulnerable settings (e.g. Special Educational Needs (SENs), respite/ residential care).
Children >3 months to under 13 years of age, who are identified as a close contact in non household settings and who are asymptomatic will no longer be routinely required to restrict movements, unless advised by Public Health Risk Assessment. This applies regardless of the number of confirmed cases identified in the non-household settings.
Children > 3 months to under 13 years of age who are identified as household contacts who are not fully vaccinated, or have not had a confirmed infection with Covid-19 in the last 9 months, will still be required to restrict their movements and will have testing arranged for them by the HSE contact management programme (CMP) .
Public Health advice remains the same that any child > 3 months to under 13 years of age with symptoms consistent with Covid-19 should immediately self-isolate, should not attend childcare or school or socialize and follow current public health advice.
Does this guidance change apply to children who are household close contacts?
This guidance does not apply to children living in the same household as a case of Covid-19. Unvaccinated children, with no confirmed previous infection with Covid-19, in these circumstances will still be identified as close contacts and asked to restrict their movements, in line with national guidance. * The definition of a household contact, will now include a child aged under 13 years, who was present over-night, in the house or in close contact in a residential setting, of a case whilst they were infectious i.e., any child who was attending a ‘sleepover’ when someone in the household was infectious with Covid-19, will also be designated a close-contact and required to restrict their movements and be tested.
Reminder of core important information:
Pods: Q. Do ‘pods’ still need to be organised and implemented?
A. Yes. We have asked children to be in pods as per last year and that indoors these pods are kept in place as much as possible. This is to ensure that the number of people (adults and children) who are in close contact with a case of Covid-19 is as limited as possible, and therefore the risks to others (albeit that the risks are low within a class setting) are kept to the lowest number.
Close contact testing: Q. If a child or adult is identified as a close contact within your school – has the period of restricted movements required of a pupil/student or staff member deemed to be a “close contact” who are not vaccinated changed? A. Unvaccinated children and adults who are household contacts , who have not had a recent confirmed infection of Covid-19 (in the previous 9 months) are still required to restrict their movements for 14 days and the HSE will refer them for 2 free Covid-19 tests. Restricted movements can end after ten days with a Not Detected result and providing they have no symptoms.
The guidance remains the same regarding a child who is showing symptoms of COVID19:
Step 1: Please keep your child at home and contact the school to advise of absence
Step 2: Please contact your GP who will advise you of what the next steps are
Step 3: If you are advised by your GP to bring your child for a Covid test please follow the HSE guidelines in this respect
If you are advised by your GP that your child does not need a Covid test, they should then advise you what the illness is, and whether your child is fit and safe to return to the education setting
If you are unsure of the symptoms of COVID19 please log onto https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/symptoms/symptoms-child/ for further information.
Thank You