COVID-19 information

We understand this is a worrying time for children and their families, especially those with a health condition. Here is some information about coronavirus (COVID-19) and coming to our hospitals.

Image courtesy of Fusion Medical Animation

For the most up-to-date information visit the dedicated NSW Health coronavirus information page or see the NSW Health resources.

Updated 21 July 2021

A message from the Chief Executive

Hello everyone,

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been challenging for all of us, and we understand that it can be an especially anxious time for patients with long-term health conditions and their families. The situation is changing rapidly and there is a lot of information to take in. This page aims to answer some of your questions about coming to our hospitals and the care we are providing for patients.

The health and safety of patients is our absolute priority. In response to COVID-19, we have made some important changes to ensure no one is placed at risk when coming to our facilities. Changes are regularly updated on this web page. You can read  my letter to patients and families for more information.

If you have any specific concerns about your child's medical condition, please reach out directly to your child’s health care team.

Please stay safe and remember to get tested even with the mildest of symptoms.

Cathryn

Cathryn Cox
Chief Executive, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network

Visitor guidelines 

14 July 2021 update

Stay-at-home orders will be extended across all of Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong until 11.59pm Friday, 30 July. Everyone in Greater Sydney must stay home unless it is for an essential reason.  Full details are available here.

The following visitor guidelines apply:

  • Visitors and patients over the age of 12 attending the hospital for clinical appointments are required to wear a mask, where possible.
  • Children aged 12 years and under do not need to wear a mask. Masks will be available at the Concierge screening stations.
  • Please bring your own mask if possible. A cloth or surgical mask is sufficient. If you don't have a mask, we will provide one for you.

Please avoid congregating in large groups, particularly if physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Visitors

21 July 2021 update

At this time, keeping vulnerable patients and families safe is our priority. Due to the NSW Government's current stay at home orders, until Friday 30 July, only one parent/carer per patient can visit per day.  In most areas, two parents/carers can accompany their child upon admission and discharge for 15 minutes. A 15 minute ‘handover’ period is also supported per day while the child is in hospital, to allow parents/carers to discuss their child’s care. To find out more, please speak to your child's health care team

We kindly ask all visitors:
• not to visit if they have been to a COVID-19 case location
• are a close contact of a COVID-19 case
• are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, or
• have even the slightest symptoms of COVID-19.

Please check the NSW COVID-19 case location webpage before visiting and follow the public health advice.

Do not hesitate to discuss any questions or concerns you have directly with your child’s health care team. 

Sibling visits

Siblings of long-stay patients (more than nine days) are welcome to visit at a time pre-arranged with the ward’s Nurse Unit Manager. However, due to the NSW Government's current stay at home orders, until Friday 30 July, siblings are unable to visit our hospitals.

Although siblings of other patients are unable to physically visit , we encourage virtual visits using platforms like Facetime or WhatsApp. Keeping families connected is important to us. If you need access to a tablet for video conferencing, please speak to your child’s Nurse Unit Manager.

Check-in and screening process

To help keep track of visitors to our hospitals, you will need to check-in via a QR code system.

Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick

  • Check-in via a QR code available upon entry.

The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

There are two ways to complete your health screening:

  • scan the QR code on display at the hospital entrances, or
  • use our e-Gate App. It allows you to complete a one-off registration before coming to the hospital to save time.

e-Gate resources

COVID-19 testing clinics for children

Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick (SCH)

The Hospital's testing clinic has merged with Prince of Wales Hospital

  • OPEN: Open 9am-8pm 7 days 
  • LOCATION: Prince of Wales Hospital, Avoca Street Randwick, NSW, 2031
  • PARKING: Street parking or the Randwick Hospitals Campus carpark (off Barker Street). Please do not access the clinic by walking through the main hospital building. Follow the signs to access the clinic

Please note, the COVID-19 testing clinic:

  • Do not offer medical review. Any child who requires a medical review will need to either visit their GP or local Emergency Department
  • Do not provide COVID-19 testing/blood tests for travel purposes.

The Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW)

The COVID-19 Clinic at The Children's Hospital at Westmead is currently closed. Please visit the NSW Health website to find your closest COVID-19 Clinic. 

Testing for travel purposes

COVID-19 testing and result certificates for travel clearance are provided by private pathology clinics

General criteria

You do not need to have travelled overseas or been in contact with someone who has coronavirus.
Contact your doctor (GP) or a COVID-19 Testing Clinic, or call 1800 020 080 (24 hours a day/7 days a week).

Tips for getting kids tested

Sometimes children can be anxious about having medical tests, especially if they are not feeling well. This video will answer lots of their questions and hopefully makes your job as parent or carer, a little easier.

Your child may go through a range of emotions after having a COVID-19 test, which may leave you wondering - what do I do now?

COVID-19 Vaccination

Vaccination is our best protection against COVID-19.

As part of the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccination roll out, adolescents over the age of 16 years with specified underlying medical conditions are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination.

To register for an appointment, members of the public should use the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker.

If your child is 16 years or older and receives care at SCHN, please contact your child’s health care team.

AstraZeneca clinics at Randwick and Westmead - open to the general public (60 years of age and over)

AstraZeneca vaccination clinics located at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead are now open to members of the general public. Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick also offers Pfizer vaccination.

Booking is only available via the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker.

If you have any questions about vaccination please don’t hesitate to contact you GP or health care provider

We encourage you to read more about COVID-19 vaccination, including eligibility details, by visiting the Australian Government website.

You can also read frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine on the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance website.

Your child's health can't wait

Don't delay, visit when you need us

How COVID-19 affects children

The risk to children and babies, and the role children play in transmitting COVID-19, is still being researched. Children can develop COVID-19, but evidence suggests they do not get as sick as adults, especially elderly adults.

The rate of confirmed COVID-19 cases among children, compared to the broader population, has so far been low. Very few children develop severe symptoms with COVID-19 and the vast majority globally have recovered without needing medical support.

The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) has carried out research to understand the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in NSW schools, and the findings show that the COVID-19 transmission rates  within NSW schools has been very limited. Read about the study on the rate of COVID-19 transmisison in NSW educational settings.

Evidence suggests that coronavirus infection in children is very uncommon and severe disease is rare, with a majority of COVID-19 infections occurring in adults. Infectious diseases experts at The Children's Hospital at Westmead are conducting research to better understand why this is the case by analysing the human immune response amongst children and adults. Read more about this research.

There have been reports from overseas of a link between COVID-19 in children and Kawasaki disease, a condition which has been named Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally associated with SARS-COV-2 (PIMS‑TS). The overall risk for any severe COVID-19 outcomes in children in Australian is extremely low. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has released a statement about the condition - read the statement here.

What to do if your child starts showing symptoms

The Australian Government's Department of Health website has information about symptoms.

If your child develops an unexplained fever, a cough, sore throat or shortness of breath, isolate them and seek medical attention.

Options for medical attention for children showing mild symptoms:

Options for medical attention if your child is very unwell:

  • Take them to the nearest Emergency Department
  • Call 000

On arrival to any facility, you will be asked a series of questions and may be asked to wear a mask.

If you are unsure if your child should be tested for COVID-19 please call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

Advice for chronically-ill and immunocompromised patients

As a parent of a chronically-ill or immunocompromised child, it can be hard to know what to do amidst the COVID-19 pandemic where the situation and information is constantly evolving. Children with chronic health conditions can be more susceptible to infections, although it is not clear if this is the case with coronavirus (COVID-19). 

The current available evidence shows that infection with COVID-19 is milder in children than in adults. However, having a weakened immune system may make it harder for the body to fight infections such as this virus. Children who are chronically-ill or immunocompromised should take extra precautions to protect themselves where possible. For specific advice about your child's condition, please consult your treating team.

Updated advice for paediatric oncology and BMT patients during the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on the Australian & New Zealand Children's Haematology/Oncology Group website.

Advice for families with booked appointments

If you are unwell or have visited a COVID-19 Case Location, please call ahead to discuss your options.

If you have a telehealth appointment, there is a lot of useful information for patients and families about preparing for your virtual appointment on the Agency for Clinical Innovation website:

Preventing the spread of COVID-19

The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and stay safe during this time is to:

  • Wash your hands often - with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available.
  • Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are known to be unwell.
  • Cough/sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin.
  • Practice physical distancing - keep a distance of at least 1.5m between you and other people
  • Self isolate as much as possible and stay home from work or school if you are sick

Visit the NSW Health website for more information about how to protect yourself and others.

School and your child's health

Research to date is clear: the spread of COVID-19 within NSW schools has been very limited. Read more about research findings on COVID-19 transmission in schools.

The government is taking measures to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission in NSW school communities. Read advice from Dr Kerry Chant, Chief Health Officer NSW Ministry of Health.

There are lots of resources available which provide updated information about school/childcare and COVID-19:

Finding reliable information about COVID-19

To keep you and your family safe, it's important to refer to reliable sources of information. 

Wellbeing resources for children and families

Infectious diseases outbreaks like coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause a great deal of anxiety in the community. It is understandable to feel worried about the COVID-19 pandemic, especially if your child has a pre-existing health condition.

Feelings of unease are normal in this situation and for many families, this will be compounded by concerns for loved ones, social isolation and financial hardship.

Here are some resources for helping your children during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Translated resources

Translated resources are available on the NSW Health website.