Policy Update: My child has a runny nose, now what?

The changing weather, cold and flu season, and fall allergies can all cause runny noses, but unfortunately, so can COVID.

*symptom free child used for demonstration purposes only

So what do you do when your child has a new, mild symptom, such as a runny nose?

1. Stay Home

2. Notify Common Ground

3. Make an Appointment with your child’s physician

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Staying Home:

While this can seem like an inconvenience when you’re sure your child just has a typical cold, the health department has developed the policy that we are following with the goal of keeping schools open. It states that anyone (this includes staff members) who has any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, headache, congestion, runny nose, muscle aches, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, or poor appetite, be evaluated by a physician and a covid test is recommended. You can access the full illness policy and health department update here.

Notifying Common Ground:

We need to know when your kids are staying home and if they have any symptoms. By letting us know, it will help us remind you of what you need to do before you can return to Common Ground. We also track data, just in case we do have a case and have to contact trace.

Physician Evaluation:

The health department requires that a physician make an “Alternative Diagnosis” be made before your child can return. In most cases, this will require a COVID test.

We are all in this together.

This is the same policy that we are using for staff members as well as children. We are working to keep COVID out of our center through mitigation techniques outlined in our Community Pledge, and our illness policy is how we will keep a possible case contained.

But what if I don’t want to get my child evaluated by a physician?

You do not have to see a physician if you do not want to. However, if you choose to not seek an alternative diagnosis, you must wait 10 days from onset of symptoms before returning to Common Ground. Again, you can access the full illness policy and health department update here.