She is concerned there are too many children going into school with 'cold-like' symptoms that could be Covid

A Plymouth mum and healthcare worker believes government advice on symptoms of Covid needs to be updated after her daughter's surprise positive test.

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, had been sending her child into school with 'cold-like' symptoms and was 'horrified' when a precautionary test revealed it was actually a case of Covid.

Now she is concerned about the impact this will have on the school after her daughter spent several days in close contact with fellow students and staff.

“She had a bunged nose and a headache," she told PlymouthLive. "I thought that’s quite like a cold and after I saw stories about the common cold being worse this year, I just assumed it was a cold.

“On Wednesday night she was very poorly so I got her a test as a precaution.

"When it came back positive, I felt absolutely horrified because she’d gone to school for the first few days.

“She has been in prolonged contact with her classmates and teaching staff, shared a dining hall with various year groups, all while being highly infectious.”

With a significant number of adults in the UK are now double jabbed, the same is not true of children mingling at school.

Meanwhile, Plymouth’s confirmed Covid cases between September 18 and 24 have risen to 873, up from 694 the week before. Also, in just two days, it has been reported five covid related deaths at Derriford hospital.

“Infection rates are high," the mum added. "In Plymouth, we have more daily deaths from this virus now than we had at the start of the first lockdown.

“The advice on the Government site is still listing the same three symptoms at the start of the pandemic even though the virus is mutating and there are new symptoms. They really need to take it into account.

“Maybe if the government advice changed with these new symptoms and encouraged children with Covid symptoms to get a test- then maybe it would help.”

The mum, who is also works in healthcare, is urging everyone to stay on top of whatever Covid measures they can control even if they are not government-enforced.

“It’s so sad people are still dying now," she said.

“I get that everyone is so fed up with this virus, but the only way we will get rid of it if we social distance and wear facemasks."

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Since the start of the pandemic we have acknowledged COVID-19 has a much longer list of symptoms than the ones used in the case definition and experts keep the list of symptoms under review.”

"Data on symptoms is kept under review. The main symptoms have been carefully selected to capture those most likely to have COVID-19, while not capturing a great number of people who do not.

"Anyone experiencing the key symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – should get a PCR test as soon as possible."

Keep your child off school if they have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19:

a high temperature
a new, continuous cough
a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste
Stay at home and get a test for your child.

NHS advice on coughs and colds
It's fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold. But if they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes.

Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.

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