The government has been urged to clear up confusion over what children with common-cold like symptoms should do, as it emerged pupils were receiving different advice over PCR tests and common cold-like symptoms.
A runny nose, headache and a sore throat are all thought to be symptoms of the highly contagious Delta variant of coronavirus, mimicking the symptoms of a common cold.
Several local public health teams have told parents to get their child tested for Covid if they display symptoms outside the main three listed by the NHS: a fever, dry cough and loss of sense of taste or smell.
And The Independent understands some schools have told pupils to self-isolate alongside a PCR test if they have symptoms such as a runny nose as an extra precaution after cases were detected in the setting.
At least two primary schools in Sheffield have told parents to keep their children off school and get them a PCR test if they feel unwell or have common cold-like after other pupils tested positive.
A spokesperson for Sheffield Council’s public health team told The Independent: “Where schools in…
