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Close contacts and self-isolation

Please note that from 16th August 2021 onwards, close contacts who have had both doses of vaccination (more than 14 clear days prior to date of exposure to case) and children under 18 years and 6 months will not be required to self-isolate unless they are symptomatic or test positive.

When you have a positive case in the setting:

  • Identify all close contacts the child/staff cases may have had in their infectious period (in class, break and lunch times, before and after school and transport) and establish if there are links (see schools/EY flowchart provided).
  • Notify parents/guardians that their child may have been in close contact with a positive case (see letters).
  • Notify staff that they may have been in close contact with a positive case (see letters).
  • Recommend identified close contacts take daily LFTs for 7 days (this may need to extend if transmission continues). For early years settings we are recommending a PCR test for close contacts as well as regular LFT testing (if acceptable to parents). If daily LFT testing is not possible for some special school cohorts we would advise as a minimum a PCR test and any additional LFT testing that they can undertake.
  • We will also support headteachers/managers who choose to ask parents of children who are contacts of a positive case within the same household – i.e. the case could be a sibling or a parent, to keep their child at home until they have tested negative on a PCR, alongside undertaking daily LFTs.
  • Isolate identified close contacts who are not exempt from isolation: i.e. those who are not fully vaccinated (need to have had both vaccinations and second dose should have been more than 14 clear days prior to first exposure to cases) – they can still be recommended to undertake daily LFT testing, but need to remain isolated for 10 clear days after their last contact.

Close contacts and self-isolation | Documents and downloads