F.A.Q for Families

Can I get tested for COVID-19 if I think I have it?

Call your doctor if you think you have coronavirus. The most common symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Your doctor will contact the Department of Public Health, who will work with the CDC to decide if you can be tested. They will consider your travel, your contacts, and exposure to the virus. There is no on-demand testing. 

Does COVID-19 affect children?

Although there is not significant enough research on how COVID-19 affects children or pregnant women, it is possible for people of any age to be infected with the virus. So far, relatively few cases of COVID-19 have been reported among children and fatality within cases involving younger people have been rare.

What should I do if my child or family member has symptoms of COVID-19?

• Seek medical attention from a health care provider as symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to those of the flu or common cold. Seek care early if you or your child are experiencing flu-like symptoms and try to avoid going to public places (workplace, schools, public transport) to prevent spreading it to others. 
• Consider calling your health care provider ahead of time if you have traveled to an area where COVID-19 has been reported or if you have been in close contact with someone who traveled from one of these areas and has respiratory symptoms.
• Continue to follow and teach children about good hand and respiratory hygiene practices like frequent hand-washing, covering coughs, sneezing into flexed elbows or tissues, not touching their face with unwashed hands, and properly disposing of used tissues.
• If your child is experiencing flu-like symptoms, keep your child well rested at home while symptomatic and avoid going to public places. If your child isn’t displaying any symptoms such as fever or cough and unless a public health advisory or warning has been issues affecting your child’s school, it’s best to keep your child in class.

What precautions should I take for my family if we travel?

Anyone planning a trip overseas should always check the travel advisory for their destination country for any restrictions on entry, quarantine requirements on entry, or other relevant travel advice.

In addition to taking standard travel precautions, and in order to avoid being quarantined or denied re-entry into your home country, you are also advised to check the latest COVID-19 update on the International Air Transport Association website, which includes a list of countries and restriction measures.

Is it safe for mothers to breastfeed if she is infected with coronavirus?

Considering the benefits of breastfeeding and the insignificant role of breastmilk in the transmission of other respiratory viruses, the mother can continue breastfeeding, while applying all the necessary precautions.

For symptomatic mothers well enough to breastfeed, this includes wearing a mask when near a child (including during feeding), washing hands before and after contact with the child (including feeding), and cleaning/disinfecting contaminated surfaces – as should be done in all cases where anyone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 interacts with others, including children.

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Content Source:

“Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Patients out of Wuhan from China.” New England Journal of Medicine, Sept. 2020, doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-15449/v1.

San Francisco prepares for possible coronavirus outbreak. (2020, March 8).  https://sf.gov/news/san-francisco-prepares-possible-coronavirus-outbreak

Travel news powered by IATA Timatic. (2020, March 20).  https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm