Covid safety advice for parents

Greg Fell, Sheffield's Director of Public Health, has urged parents and their children to keep following Covid guidance. 

Following the return to school, we have received reports of:

• children having sleepovers and playdates at friends' houses
• children with symptoms not getting tests and being sent to school
• a lack of social distancing

This could cause an increase in cases and stop our roadmap out of lockdown.

Please click below to watch the full video from Greg.

Staying safe outside school

School bubbles are only safe in school because of all the other protective measures in place like ventilation, extra cleaning, face coverings, etc. It is unlikely that the same level of protection is taken elsewhere, and therefore children should not mix with their school bubble outside of school.

One in three people don't have symptoms and can spread Coronavirus without realising. And most cases (70%) are caught in the home as the virus spreads much more easily indoors when people are in close contact for longer.

We know most people are being responsible - thank you for everything you're doing to keep yourself and others safe. For anyone else who needs a reminder of what you are and are not currently allowed to do, please click the link below.

The difference between Covid tests

There is some confusion between the two types of Covid test available.

The rapid LFD tests you can do at home do not replace PCR tests given at Covid test sites.

Please do not use LFD tests if you or anyone in your family have any Covid symptoms, even if they're not very bad. The main symptoms are:

• a high temperature
• a cough that won't stop
• a change or loss in taste/smell

These symptoms should not be ignored under any circumstances, even if you get a negative LFD test at home. You must self-isolate immediately and book a PCR test online at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.

For more information on Covid testing please click the button below.

The following Testing information may also be helpful for you to be aware of and to share if appropriate:

Rapid tests now available to collect from EISS

If you’re a member of a household, childcare bubble, or support bubble of a pupil, student or staff of a school, nursery or college, you should take two rapid (LFD) tests a week. This helps to stop the spread because if you know you have Coronavirus, you can self-isolate and avoid infecting others.

Tests can be accessed in several ways:

• through your employer if they offer testing to employees
• at a local test site – find your nearest rapid lateral flow test site at NHS: Covid Test Finder
• (NEW) by collecting a home test kit from the asymptomatic test site at the English Institute of Sport (EISS), Coleridge Road, Sheffield S9 5DA. From 24th March this will be open 9.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday
• by collecting a home test kit from a local test site – find your nearest home test kit collection point at NHS: Rapid Test Collection Covid Test Finder
• by ordering a home test kit online – this service is only for people who cannot get a test through the methods above. Order rapid lateral flow home test kits online at GOV.UK: Schools testing