COVID-19 INFORMATION & UPDATES

Regular symptom-free testing is available for households, childcare and support bubbles of school-age pupils. Everyone in these groups is recommended to get tested twice a week using rapid LFD tests.

Find out where to pick up your FREE lateral flow tests on the NHS website.

The main symptoms of COVID are:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot, for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• a loss or change to sense of smell or taste – this means they cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
• headaches and upset tummy can also be a symptom.

What to do if your child has symptoms:

(Elm Grove Remote Education Provision Information for Pupils Isolating due to COVID-19)

Accessing COVID PCR Tests

If you or your child have any of the above coronavirus symptoms, even if mild, please book a PCR test as soon as possible. Lateral flow tests should ONLY be used as symptom FREE testing. You can order a PCR test kit to be sent to your home or book an appointment at a walk-in or drive-through test site.

COVID Vaccination Information

FREE Covid-19 vaccinations are available to children and young people aged 12-17 years, and any adult over 18. You can book your vaccination today or visit a walk in vaccination site. More information on vaccinating children and young people can be found here (https://www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/covid-19-vaccination/aged-12-to-17/).

• Walk in vaccination site in Brighton & Hove (18+)
• Walk in vaccination site in Brighton & Hove (12-17yrs)
• Book your 1st or 2nd vaccine dose

The Autumn COVID-19 booster vaccine campaign is now also underway. Those in line for a booster jab include everyone aged 50 and over, frontline health and social care workers and those aged between 16 and 49 with an underlying health condition putting them at greater risk from the virus. More information can be found on the Sussex Health and Care Partnership website.

Claiming support under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme – parents/guardians of children told to self-isolate

If you’re not legally required to self-isolate, but you are the parent or guardian of a child who has been told to self-isolate, you could be eligible for a £500 Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary payment if all the following apply:

• you’re the parent or guardian of a child in your household who is self-isolating, and you need to take time off work to care for them
• your child is aged 15 or under, or aged 25 or under with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, normally attends an education or childcare setting, and has been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or by their education or childcare setting
• you’re unable to work from home and will lose income because you have to care for your child while they are self-isolating
• you meet all the other eligibility criteria for a Test and Trace Support Payment or discretionary payment

Please visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sips for further information and to apply for a payment.