Use this page to find out:
- when to keep your child at home from school or childcare
- when it's OK to send your child to school or childcare
- when your child can return to school after being tested for COVID-19
If your child has symptoms
Your child should stay at home and avoid contact with other people if:
they have symptoms of COVID-19 and:
- are unwell
- have a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius or higher)
They do not need a COVID-19 test unless a GP or health professional advises them to have one.
Urgent advice: Contact a GP if:
your child has symptoms of COVID-19 and:
- are age 3 months or less
- feel very unwell and you are concerned about their symptoms
- have a condition that puts them at higher risk from COVID-19
When to keep your child at home from school or childcare
Keep your child at home if they:
- have symptoms of COVID-19 and feel unwell - if a runny nose or sneezing is their only symptom, it's OK to send them
- have a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius or higher)
- have got a positive COVID-19 test result
- have diarrhoea and are aged 12 or younger
When it's OK to send your child to school or childcare
It is usually OK to send your child to school or childcare if they:
- only have nasal symptoms, such as a runny nose or a sneeze, but otherwise feel well
- have not had any new symptoms for 48 hours
- have not had diarrhoea for 48 hours