Outpatient Specialty Care and Primary Care Clinical Pathway for Screening Children with Suspected 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disease

Goals and Metrics
Provider Resources
Related Pathways
Evaluation and COVID-19 Testing Guidance for Children with Respiratory Symptoms
Definition of Symptoms and COVID Suspected Children
Symptom and Exposure Screening at Arrival
  • Encourage all children and families to mask in waiting room
  • Symptomatic children, family members remain masked throughout care except for PE as needed
Symptom-based Precautions
No Known COVID Exposure
Asymptomatic Standard
Symptomatic Contact/Droplet, regardless of COVID test result
Symptomatic + AGP
  • Expanded, until COVID test result available
    • Use negative pressure room as available
    • or
    • Room with door closed
Known COVID Exposure
Asymptomatic
or
Symptomatic		 Contact/Droplet, regardless of COVID test result
Known COVID Exposure, AGP
Asymptomatic
or
Symptomatic
  • Expanded, until COVID test result available
    • Use negative pressure room as available
    • or
    • Room with door closed
Expected Discharge
Consider Standard SARS-CoV-2 Test for the following:
  1. Symptoms Present
    • As clinically indicated
    • Child/family request
  2. No symptoms + exposed, consider test if > 5 days from exposure

Use Influenza Pathway to guide additional testing during influenza season
Expected Acute Hospital Admission or Procedure (Peri-operative Guidance)
Send Rapid Diagnostic SARS-CoV-2 Test for the following:
  1. Symptoms Present, regardless of AGP
  2. No symptoms + Exposed + Procedure within 72 hours
Note:
  • No admission test required for asymptomatic + AGP regardless of exposure history
    if no scheduled procedure
  • For children transferred to residential or other conjugate living settings, consider testing or follow guidance from individual facility
  • Use Influenza Pathway to guide additional testing during influenza season
  • Guidance on Re-testing/Reinfection
Stable for Outpatient Treatment
Transfer for Continued Evaluation
Posted: January 2020
Revised: May 2023