CHESHIRE East Council has apologised to parents after a Facebook post advising them to book a Covid test if their child suffers a host of ‘winter symptoms’ left users baffled.

Dozens of Facebook users responded to the council’s post on Sunday, which claimed that youngsters should speak to their school before attending and book a Covid test if they suffered from symptoms such as diarrhoea, headaches or a sore throat.

More confusion followed on Monday, when in another post CEC reminded the public that ‘only people who are displaying symptoms of coronavirus need to get tested’.

After being approached by the Guardian for clarification, the council has issued an apology for what it describes as a mix-up between two public health messages on Facebook, and has explained what it was trying to say on social media at the weekend.

Knutsford Guardian:

CEC's original Facebook post from Sunday

Dr Matt Tyrer, director of public health for CEC, said: “We are sorry that some guidance we issued via social media recently has caused confusion among parents and carers.

“While trying to keep the message brief within the post on Facebook, two key points were mixed together.”

What does the council want parents and carers to do?

The first point CEC says it wanted to make was to advise parents and carers to speak to their child’s school before attending if either they or their child suffers from one of ‘the usual winter symptoms’.

The council lists these as sickness, diarrhoea, headaches, unexplained tiredness, muscle and body aches, nasal congestion and a sore throat.

Dr Tyrer said: “An outcome of this conversation may be an agreement that the pupil or staff member should stay at home for 48 hours, as is recommended for certain winter ailments such as norovirus.

Knutsford Guardian:

"This is in line with the government’s guidance regarding managing infectious diseases in schools, which recommends excluding pupils or staff for 48 hours after symptoms have stopped for a number of infectious diseases.”

CEC then advises that a Covid test is requested for a child or adult if these symptoms persist or worsen – particularly if they begin to display any of the three main Covid symptoms of a cough, fever or loss of taste or smell.

The council says that if the test is returned negative and the child or adult has been diarrhoea and fever free for 48 hours, they can return to school.

Dr Tyrer added: “Both messages are precautionary measures that enable the school, the parent or member of staff to review their circumstances such as possible contact with someone with Covid, to review their symptoms over the next 24 to 48 hours and to see whether these have settled or got worse.

“In any normal year, winter brings many ailments and dealing with these in addition to Covid is a challenge, as we try to manage infections while keeping as many staff and pupils in school as is safely possible.

“Our education and public health teams have been supporting schools across Cheshire East to manage outbreaks and to reduce the need to have a whole bubble or year groups having to isolate.

“Our intention is to strengthen the advice and support we give to schools and to be extra vigilant in assessing the risks of staff or students attending who are unwell.”

Who can get a coronavirus test on the NHS?

National advice has recently been expanded to allow people who have been asked to get a Covid test by their council to get one for free.

You can get a free NHS test if at least one of the following applies:

  • you have a high temperature
  • you have a new, continuous cough
  • you’ve lost your sense of smell or taste or it’s changed
  • you’ve been asked to get a test by a local council
  • you’re taking part in a government pilot project
  • you’ve been asked to get a test to confirm a positive result.

You can also get a test for someone you live with if they have symptoms.

While private tests are available, those that are of the same standard used by the NHS are expensive, usually costing more than £100.

What do you think? Email yourviews@guardiangrp.co.uk