A child who tests positive for COVID-19 and/or has symptoms of COVID-19 like a cough, fever, sore throat or runny nose does not necessarily have to visit the emergency department.
If your child has COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19, keep them at home and make sure that they are drinking fluids. If they have fever, you can give them fever-reducing medications (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) to make them feel more comfortable.
A visit to the emergency department is necessary if your child develops symptoms that cannot be managed at home like:
The Montreal Children’s Hospital’s emergency department (ED) is there for you when your child is very sick and in need of urgent medical treatment. But it’s hard to provide the best possible care when families come to the ED for reasons that are less urgent. We are asking for your help to ensure that the ED remains available for urgent treatment of children whose condition must be addressed immediately.
Thank you for your collaboration.