Revised Covid Response Plan August 2021

CETNS Covid-19 Response Plan
Please click on the button above for the CETNS Covid-19 Response Plan below, last reviewed in August 2021
​This a live document and will be reviewed regularly and when required, in line with DES and HSE Public Health Advice. 

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Wondering what to do if your child has a cough or cold?
As many of us suffer with coughs and colds throughout the year, decision making around sending children to school is difficult. Please see attached the HSE guidelines which might help.

It is best practice, if in doubt, keep your child at home and phone your G.P.

Keep your child at home if: 

• have a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more
• have other common symptoms of COVID-19 - a new cough, loss or changed sense of taste or smell, or shortness of breath
• have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19
• live with someone who is unwell and may have COVID-19
• have arrived back into Ireland from certain countries - check gov.ie for the latest travel advice

HSE Advice for Parents 

A Parents Guide to Close Contacts

If your child is a close contact

Wondering what to do if your child is a close contact?
If your child has been in close contact with someone else who has COVID-19 in school you will be contacted to bring your child home. The school will not share the name of the person who tested positive for COVID-19.
The HSE contact tracing team will arrange COVID-19 testing for your child and contact you with the details. 

If your child has symptomsIf your child has symptoms of COVID-19, they will need to isolate from others immediately and you should phone your GP. 
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include:

• a fever (high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above)
• a cough - this can be any kind of cough, not just dry
• shortness of breath or breathing difficulties
• loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Isolating from others means they should stay in a room, on their own, with a window open for ventilation. They should avoid contact with other people. Depending on the age of your child, a parent may need to isolate with them.
If your child does not have symptoms​Your child needs to stay at home (restricted movements)Your child should restrict their movements for 14 days, from when they were last in close contact with the person who has tested positive for COVID-19. This is sometimes called quarantine.
They can stop restricting their movements when both apply:

• They have a negative test (COVID-19 not detected) 10 days after they were last in contact with the person who tested positive.
• They do not have any symptoms of COVID-19.

Restricted movements means they need to stay at home, avoiding contact with other people and social situations as much as possible. This is to help stop the spread of the virus if they do have COVID-19 too.
During the 14 days of restricted movements your child cannot:

• attend school, childcare or any group activities
• use public transport
• visit other people’s homes or have visitors to your home

Your child can go outside to attend a medical appointment or to exercise as long as they keep 2 metres distance from other people.