FAQ: What to do with children with colds in Corona times?

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Younger children in particular often have a cold. In Corona times, many parents are then unsettled. Because colds can be a symptom of Sars-CoV-2. Can the child still go to daycare or school? And when is a corona test indicated? Here you will find answers to the most important questions.

Can I send my child to daycare / school with a runny nose or a slight cough?

The regulations differ from state to state and can change again and again. In some countries, children with mild symptoms are also allowed to go to daycare if they are otherwise awake, in others not. You will find a list of all the information offered by the various federal states under the item "Information on the regulations of the federal states".

When should I keep my child at home?

If your child is clearly ill, has a fever or has bad symptoms, you should always keep them at home or, if necessary, present them to the doctor - as in non-Corona times too! You should also be careful with mild symptoms if you have reason to believe that your child may have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 - for example because they had contact with an infected person or stayed in a risk area. Then first discuss with your pediatrician how you should proceed.

When can my child go back to care or school after an illness?

This is also handled differently from state to state. In some countries, two days of symptom-free status are sufficient, in others a negative corona test is required. You can find out exactly what is currently valid in your state from the respective hotlines. A list can be found under the point "Information on the regulations of the federal states".

When should I have my child tested?

If you have reason to believe that your child has been infected with SARS-CoV-2 - for example because they have had direct contact with an infected person, you should have them tested. This also applies if they have more severe symptoms such as a dry cough, sore throat or diarrhea (which is more common in children with corona). Then first clarify how you should proceed by telephone with your pediatrician.

When does my child have to be in quarantine?

Quarantine is a measure ordered by the health department. It is ordered for the children if they have had contact with confirmed infected people, for example at school or daycare. The parents then do not have to adhere to any quarantine. This is only the case when your child is actually infected. Nevertheless, in such a situation you should be particularly careful to adhere to the hygiene rules and, as a precaution, reduce social contacts.

Is the corona test uncomfortable for my child?

A deep nasopharynx swab is actually quite an uncomfortable procedure - for both children and adults. However, it is also over quickly. However, medical staff in full protective gear can particularly frighten young children, which makes it even more difficult for them to be ready to be examined. Try to prepare young children for the test and explain, for example, why people dress in weird clothes.

When does a school / daycare center have to be closed?

If a child, carer or teacher has tested positive for the coronavirus, direct contact persons must go into quarantine. This can affect the entire facility, but does not have to be - for example, if classes or care groups had no contact with one another. If there are many cases, there is a suspicion that there are other undiscovered infected people who could infect others. In that case, the entire facility can also be closed.

Parents do not have to be quarantined until their child is actually infected.

How long does it take to get the test results?

The pure PCR test procedure currently takes around four to five hours. In addition, there is the transport to the laboratory, the preparation of the test, and sometimes waiting times when a lot of samples are coming in. As a rule, however, the result should be available after 8 to 24 hours.

What if my child has to stay at home, but I have used up my childhood illness days / vacation days?

If your child has to stay at home because they are ill, you should immediately clarify with your employer how you can proceed and solve the problem. If your childhood illnesses are already running out, you should have this conversation beforehand.

If the facility is closed, you may be entitled to compensation due to the new regulation of the Infection Protection Act Section 56 (1a). It applies if you have to look after children under the age of twelve because no one else can take care of that. Then you are entitled to compensation of 67 percent of your net income in addition to the short-time work allowance. This grant is limited to a period of up to ten or 20 weeks for single parents and a monthly amount of a maximum of 2016 euros. The employer pays out and has to have the money reimbursed. The self-employed must apply for support themselves.

A cold is not a typical corona symptom - why should my child stay at home because of this?

In some federal states, mild symptoms are no longer a reason to keep the child at home. In other federal states, the rules are currently being revised. However, a cold is not really uncommon with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Dry coughs are more common, but about every third person with a cold also suffers from a cold, according to the Robert Koch Institute.

Information pages and hotlines of the federal states

Baden-Wuerttemberg

Hotline: 0711 904-39555 (daily 9 am-6pm)
Websites: https://km-bw.de/,Lde/Startseite/Ablage+Einzelseiten+ Mischte+Themen/CoronaVO+Kita

Bavaria

Hotline: 089/122 220 (daily 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
Website: https://www.stmas.bayern.de/coronavirus-info/corona-kindestagesbetreuung.php

Berlin

Hotline Senate Department for Education, Youth and Family: 030 90227-5050
Website: https://www.berlin.de/corona/faq/
Website: https://www.berlin.de/sen/bjf/coronavirus/aktuelles/stieg-oeffnung-kita-und-kindestagespflege/

Brandenburg

Hotline citizen phone: 0331 866-5050, (weekdays 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
Website https://mbjs.brandenburg.de/kinder-und-jugend/weiter-themen/corona-aktuell.html

Bremen

Citizen hotline 115 or 361-0 (weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
https://www.bremen.de/corona/corona-faq

Hamburg

Corona hotline: 42828-4000. You (24 hours a day)
Website: https://www.hamburg.de/kahrung-betreuung-allgemein/13701524/coronavirus-elterninfo/

Hesse

Corona hotline: 0800 55 54 666

Website: https://www.hessen.de/fuer-buerger/corona-hessen/bildung-und-betreuung/betreuung-und-schule
Website: https://soziales.hessen.de/gesundheit/infektionsschutz/corona-hessen/eingeschraenkener-regelbetrieb-ab-dem-2-juni
Website: https://soziales.hessen.de/sites/default/files/media/hsm/202605_faq_eingeschraenkener_regelbetrieb.pdf

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Corona hotline: 0385 588 11 3 11 (daily 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
Website: https://www.regierung-mv.de/service/Corona-FAQs/

Lower Saxony

Hotline debt authority Hanover: 0511 106 6000
General Corona hotline: 0511 120 6000 (daily 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.)
Website: https://www.niedersachsen.de/Coronavirus/lösungen_auf_haufig_rechte_fragen_faq/ Answer- auf-haufig-stellen-fragen-faq-186686.html

North Rhine-Westphalia

General Corona hotline: 0211 9119-1001
Ministry of School and Education: 0211 586740

Website: https://www.land.nrw/de/wichtige-fragen-und-lösungenen-zum-corona-virus

Rhineland-Palatinate

Hotline for questions about daycare: Tel. 06131 967 500 (Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
ONLY for schools: Hotline for organizational questions: 0261 2054613300 (Monday to Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Friday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
General Corona hotline 0800 575 81 00 (weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Website: https://corona.rlp.de/de/themen/schulen-kitas/

Saarland

Hotline: 0681 5014422 8
Website: https://corona.rlp.de/de/themen/schulen-kitas/

Saxony

Hotline: 0800 1000214 (weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekends 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
Website: https://www.coronavirus.sachsen.de/coronavirus-faq.html

Saxony-Anhalt

There is currently no hotline available

Website: https://ms.sachsen-anhalt.de/themen/gesundheit/aktuell/coronavirus/eingeschraenkener-regelbetrieb-in-kindestageseinrichtungen/

Schleswig-Holstein

Citizen hotline: 0431 797 000 01 (weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., on Sundays and public holidays from 8 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.)

Website: https://schleswig-holstein.de/DE/Schwerpunkte/Coronavirus/FAQ/Dossier/Kita.html

Thuringia

Info line Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport: 0361 57341 1500 (weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
Website: https://corona.thueringen.de/bildung-erbildung/schule

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