My Child Tested Positive for COVID-19: What Do I Do Now?

If your child has tested positive for COVID-19, you probably have many questions. With so much information available and scientists and doctors continuing to study the virus (and its variants), it can be hard to know what to do. The following guidance from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) can help you navigate your child’s illness and avoid spreading the virus to others.

Watch the following video for the top 5 things to know if your child tests positive, and read on for more advice:

Don’t panic!

Though it’s normal to worry anytime your child is sick, there’s no need to panic if they’ve tested positive for COVID-19. COVID-19 is a mild infection in most otherwise healthy children, similar to a cold or mild flu, and the majority can recover at home. As you would with any respiratory virus, keep your child comfortable with plenty of fluids and over-the-counter pain medication, and monitor their symptoms.

If your child isn’t eating, drinking, breathing or acting normally, or has a high-risk condition or immunosuppression, please contact your child’s care team. In the unlikely event that your child shows any emergency warning signs, such as trouble breathing, seek medical care immediately.

Isolate for 5 days, then wear a mask for days 6-10

If your child tests positive for COVID-19, they’ll need to isolate for five full days. No matter what kind of test you used, even an at-home test, you don’t need another test to confirm that your child is positive for COVID-19. If your child has symptoms, start counting days one day after symptoms begin. If your child isn’t experiencing symptoms, start counting days one day after you were tested (not the day you received the positive test result.) This online tool can help you determine how many days to stay in isolation.

If your child has a problem with their immune system, however, please contact your health care team. Your child may need to isolate for a longer period of time and may be eligible for certain treatments for COVID-19.

What does “isolate” mean?

To “isolate” means your child shouldn’t leave your home at all — no work, school, daycare or errands — except to receive essential medical care.

If at all possible, you should also try to limit exposure to other people living in your home. Teenagers should stay in a separate room from other household members and use a separate bathroom if possible. At a minimum, everyone should clean their hands frequently, stay more than 6 feet apart as much as possible, and not share personal items, such as pillows, water bottles or eating utensils.

When caring for younger children who cannot be left alone, make sure to wear a well-fitting mask and regularly sanitize surfaces and wash your hands. If you are breastfeeding, continue to do so — just make sure to wear a mask when interacting with your baby.

After isolation, wear a mask for 5 more days

If, after five full days of isolation, your child’s symptoms are improving and they’ve been fever-free for 24 hours, they may end isolation and return to school and other public places. However, they must wear a well-fitted mask at all times for an additional five days (10 days total). They should continue to be cautious around those at risk of severe complications from COVID-19, such as immunocompromised relatives, individuals with complex medical conditions, and the elderly.

If your child is under 2 years, or can’t or won’t wear a mask, they must continue to isolate for an additional five days (10 days total).

Additional testing to return to school isn’t necessary.

What do I do if my school district has different requirements to return to school?

Because communities may have different rates of COVID-19 infection, guidelines from your local health department or school district may be different from these recommendations. If that is the case, we recommend you follow local health guidance before returning to school.

If my child tested positive, but I didn’t, can I leave the house?

If your child has tested positive for COVID-19, you are considered “exposed.” This means you should follow guidance for quarantine, regardless of your vaccination status. Wear a mask when around others for the 10 days after your last exposure. For some individuals, there may be a role for testing. Read the CDC's instructions for isolation and quarantine for more details.

Get vaccinated

The best way to keep your children and family safe from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated when you’re no longer sick. While getting sick with COVID-19 offers some protection from future illness, all currently available vaccines give most people a high level of protection against the virus. In fact, combined immunity from vaccines plus natural infection is better than immunity from natural infection alone, so be sure to stay up to date on your vaccines.