Can your child go to school, daycare or return to regular activities?

Download the Can your child go to school or return to regular activities poster: immunized children 5 years and older.

This guidance is for children 5 years and older who have completed a 2-dose COVID-19 immunization series 14 days before they show any symptoms.

This guidance does not apply if your child is severely immunocompromised or has a complex medical history.

Talk to your child every day to see if they have any new or worsening symptoms.
COVID-19 is a vaccine preventable disease. People who have received the vaccination are less likely to become sick from the COVID-19 virus.

Red symptoms

• Cough
• Fever
• Chills
• Loss of taste or smell
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Yellow symptoms 

• Headache
• Runny nose or congestion
• Sore throat
• Acute or intense fatigue
• Generalized muscle aches (not related to physical exertion)
• Significant loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting

No symptoms

• Your child can go to school and return to regular activities.
• You can continue to encourage them to follow the Safe 6.

If your child has 1 or more red symptoms, your child should self-isolate

Your child should self-isolate and cannot attend school or take part in regular activities until 1 of the following:

1. They’ve been tested, the result is negative and your child feels better. This may be a lab test or a take home test depending on your child’s medical history. Follow the take home test guidance closely.
2. 7 or 10 days have passed since your child's symptoms began, your child feels better and they only had mild or moderate symptoms. Whether they need to wait for 7 or 10 days for their symptoms to have passed is based on their COVID-19 immunization and is their infectious period:

• For 7 days, their COVID-19 immunization needs to be up to date. This means they've received:
  • 2 doses of vaccine with the last dose less than 6 months ago; or
  • 3 doses of vaccine (2 doses and their booster dose).
• For 10 days:
  • if they had 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine but their last dose was more than 6 months ago; or
  • if they did not complete a full immunization series against COVID-19.

If the self-isolation period has passed, your child feels better and does not have a fever (without taking medicine that reduces fevers) they can return to school and regular activities. This applies to all medications that decrease symptoms including Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

If your child has 1 or more yellow symptoms

When your child has 1 or more yellow symptoms, your child can return to regular activities and can return to school once the symptom goes away.

Exceptions

• If your child has tested positive within the past 45 days, you do not need to self-isolate or be tested. Once your child feels better, they can return to school and regular activities.
• If your child is throwing up or has diarrhea, keep them at home until 24 hours after symptoms have gone away. If their runny nose or nasal congestion lasts longer than 24 hours, is mild and not getting worse, and the child is otherwise well, they may return to school.
• You do not need a written note from your health care provider for your child to return to school and regular activities.

Download the Can your child go to school or return to regular activities poster: non-immunized or partially immunized 5 years and older.

This guidance is for children 5 years and older who have not completed a 2-dose COVID-19 immunization series 14 days before they show any symptoms.

This guidance does not apply if your child is severely immunocompromised or has a complex medical history.

Talk to your child every day to see if they have any new or worsening symptoms.
COVID-19 is a disease that can be prevented through vaccination. People who are unvaccinated are more likely to become sick from the COVID-19 virus.

Red symptoms

• Cough
• Fever
• Chills
• Loss of taste or smell
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Yellow symptoms 

• Headache
• Runny nose or congestion
• Sore throat
• Acute or intense fatigue
• Generalized muscle aches (not related to physical exertion)
• Significant loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting

No symptoms

• Your child can go to school and return to regular activities.
• You can continue to encourage them to follow the Safe 6.

If your child has 1 or more red or 2 or more yellow symptoms, your child should self-isolate

Your child should self-isolate and cannot attend school or take part in regular activities until 1 of the following:

1. They’ve been tested, the result is negative and your child feels better. This may be  lab test or a take home test depending on your child’s medical history. Follow the take home test guidance closely.
2. 10 days have passed since the symptom began, your child feels better, only had mild or moderate illness and does not have a fever (without taking medicine that reduces fevers). This includes all medications that decrease symptoms including Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Your child may not return if their symptoms go away earlier. They must wait the 10 days. 

Exceptions

• If your child has tested positive within the past 45 days, you do not need to self-isolate or be tested. Once your child feels better, they can return to school and regular activities.
• If your child is throwing up or has diarrhea, keep them at home until 24 hours after their symptoms have gone away. If their runny nose or nasal congestion lasts longer than 24 hours, is mild and not getting worse, and the child is otherwise well, they may return to school.
• You do not need a written note from your health care provider for your child to return to school and regular activities.

Download the Can your child go to school or return to regular activities poster: 6 months to 4 years old.

This guidance is for children aged 6 months to 4 years old.

This guidance does not apply if your child is severely immunocompromised or has a complex medical history.

Observe and talk to your child every day to see if they have any new or worsening symptoms. COVID-19 is vaccine preventable disease, but the vaccine is not yet available for younger children. Individuals who are not vaccinated are more likely to become sick if infected with the COVID-19 virus.

The best way to protect children who cannot be immunized yet is to have the adults and caregivers around them fully immunized. 

Red symptoms

• Cough
• Fever
• Chills
• Loss of taste or smell
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Yellow symptoms 

• Headache
• Runny nose or congestion
• Sore throat
• Acute or intense fatigue
• Generalized muscle aches (not related to physical exertion)
• Significant loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting

No symptoms

• Your child can go to school and return to regular activities.
• You can continue to encourage them to follow the Safe 6.

If your child has 1 or more red or 2 or more yellow symptoms, your child should self-isolate

Your child should self-isolate and cannot attend school or take part in regular activities until 1 of the following:

1. They’ve been tested, the result is negative and your child feels better. This may be  lab test or a take home test depending on your child’s medical history. Follow the take home test guidance closely.
2. 10 days have passed since the symptom began, your child feels better, only had mild or moderate illness and does not have a fever (without taking medicine that reduces fevers). This includes all medications that decrease symptoms including Tylenol or Ibuprofen. Your child may not return if their symptoms go away earlier, they must wait the 10 days. 

Exceptions

• If your child has tested positive within the past 45 days, you do not need to self-isolate or be tested. Once your child feels better, they can return to school and regular activities.
• If your child is throwing up or has diarrhea, keep them at home until 24 hours after their symptoms have gone away. If their runny nose or nasal congestion lasts longer than 24 hours, is mild and not getting worse, and the child is otherwise well, they may return to school.
• You do not need a written note from your health care provider for your child to return to school and regular activities.