Testing guidelines continue to evolve as testing capabilities expand in Utah. Currently, testing is not widely available at our clinics but there are multiple testing sites with drive-thru options operated by Intermountain Healthcare, the University of Utah Health, Steward Health Care, and TestUtah. If you are unsure if your child should be tested, please call our office, and we will help guide you! If you suspect your child is ill or has been exposed to the virus, limit their exposure to other people and call our office first to discuss the next steps.

Testing Resources

Intermountain Healthcare COVID-19 Hotline: (844) 442-5224

University of Utah’s COVID-19 Hotline: (801) 587-0712

TestUtah: https://www.testutah.com

Testing for Travel

We recommend visiting the state website of the area you are traveling to for specific information and requirements. If you’re traveling to a destination that requires a negative COVID-19 test result, testing is not available by the Utah Health Department. Currently, it is offered by Intermountain and other private companies, and there may be a cost to you for it. Be aware that test results may take up to five days, possibly longer in times of high testing demand. If you need faster results for urgent travel, seek testing at a location that offers rapid testing (sites can be found at coronavirus.utah.gov). If you don’t have a test result before traveling, you may be required to self-quarantine upon arrival until a result is available, or you may be denied entry at your destination.

Is going back to school safe for children?

The answer to this question is complex and families with children should consider their individual circumstances. Some things to consider when deciding whether or not to send your child to school are: is there a high number of COVID-19 cases within your community, what is your school or district doing to mitigate the risk of exposure, and lastly what is the risk within your home if your child is exposed and exposes the virus to other family members? To help you decide on whether or not sending children back to school is right for your family, here is a helpful tool.

Is COVID-19 dangerous in children?

Thankfully, COVID-19 symptoms appear to be much milder in children than in healthy or older adults. Few children with COVID-19 have had to be hospitalized. We are closely monitoring reports from Primary Children’s Hospital and the Utah Department of Health to track testing rates, positive cases, and outcomes in our community.

Does that mean children are not getting infected?

No, children can still get infected. A number of studies where all family members have been tested suggest that children are frequently infected, but often have few or no symptoms. We’re still learning about the spread of the virus, but it’s likely that infected children can spread COVID-19 even if they aren’t sick.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19 in children?

Many children have few or no symptoms. Symptoms may include fever, runny nose, dry cough, shortness of breath, and occasionally, vomiting or diarrhea. Some children with progressive symptoms have developed pneumonia. A very small number have required hospitalization or intensive care. When symptoms are mild, children are best cared for at home to reduce the risk of spread. It is not yet known whether children with underlying medical conditions and special healthcare needs may be at higher risk for severe illness.

When should I seek care for my child?

COVID-19 appears to be a mild illness for most children, and most cases can be treated at home. If your child has difficulty breathing, is not able to keep down fluids, or is acting extremely lethargic or non-responsive, you should seek care immediately. If you’re not sure whether to seek care or have questions, please call our office and we can help you determine what’s best for your child.

To find out if you or your child should be tested for COVID-19, you can also call the Intermountain COVID-19 Hotline at (844) 422-5224 or the University of Utah COVID-19 Hotline at (801) 587-0712. Calling ahead will allow a medical professional to assess symptoms over the phone, determine if testing is needed, and help refer you or your child for testing.

Is there any treatment for COVID-19 in children?

As with other viral illnesses, most children can be treated at home and will do well. Currently, there is no proven drug treatment for COVID-19. Drinking plenty of fluids and taking medications to reduce fever may make your child more comfortable.

Should children wear masks?

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the CDC recommends that everyone 2 years of age and older wear a cloth face mask that covers the nose and mouth when out in the community. This includes places where your child may not be able to avoid staying 6 feet away from others. Cloth face coverings should NOT be put on babies or children younger than 2 because of the danger of suffocation. Learn how to talk to children about wearing masks.

How should I protect the rest of my family if my child is sick?

Taking everyday precautions to avoid infection is the best way to protect against sickness.

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water, or if that’s not an option, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Reduce close contact with others by practicing physical or social distancing.
• Clean and disinfect your home using regular household cleaning sprays or wipes.

If someone in your household is sick, all of these steps become even more important, as well as taking the following precautions:

• Separate family members with COVID-19 from others as much as possible.The person with the virus should stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Ideally, they should use a separate bathroom, if available. Limit visitors in the house.
• Avoid sharing personal household items.Don't share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in the home. After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
• Extra cleaning for all “high-touch" surfaces.These include counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables. Also, clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or body fluids on them. Use a household cleaning spray or wipes and follow the instructions on the label.
• Avoid contact with pets.This includes petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food.

What is MIS-C?

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new condition related to COVID-19. The exact cause of MIS-C is not yet known at this time, but it is felt to be due to an “overreaction” of the immune system in fighting the COVID-19 virus.

MIS-C is rare but can cause children, particularly ages 2 to 21 years, to become very ill for no apparent reason. Symptoms include a fever that lasts for several days, sore throat, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, rash, conjunctivitis (pink eye), and swollen hands and feet. The condition causes dangerous swelling, or inflammation, in the body and can lead to problems with the heart or other organs.

It is not contagious and most children are able to recover with treatment. There is no proven treatment yet at this time, but it typically involves a hospital stay and using medications to help reduce swelling, fight infection, and protect vital organs. Since MIS-C appears related to COVID-19, precautions to prevent COVID-19 exposure is important.

Unsure about sending your kids back to school in person? It's a stressful decision, but identifying areas of risk for your family can be helpful. Check out the Back To School Decision Tool

Back to School Safety Practices

A big question parents have right now is how students can go back to school safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Help prepare your child or teen by reinforcing these key behaviors:

• Wear a mask while in school and around others


• Wash hands often


• Keep 6 feet away from others when possible


• Stay home when sick such as a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19

To learn more about back to school safety visit, healthychildren.org

Ways to Keep Kids Connected

The need for social distancing may vary at times, but as we’ve all experienced, the need to stay connected during this pandemic is so important. Your kids and teens may feel isolated and need to reconnect with family and their friends. Below are some tips and tools on how to connect and make the most out of video chats.

• Reading aloud is a great activity for video chat! Grandparents and family can read to your child, and older children can practice reading to family or share a story they wrote themselves.
• Play together across the screen. Puppet and stuffed animals make great props for young children. For older kids, doing a craft together, like making a friendship bracelet, or working on a TikTok dance can be fun!
• Play a game together with friends or host a family game night! With Pinkamazing Family Game, everyone can play charades, dance, sing and draw using fun prompts from the game.
• Have your child interview a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other friend or family member. Ask questions about their childhood: What was your neighborhood like? What was your favorite toy?

Well Visits

You may be wondering if it's a good idea to still bring your child into the office for well visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yes, we recommend keeping up with your child's check ups!

Well visits are not only important for monitoring growth & development but also for necessary screenings, like vision and hearing. Emotional & mental health screenings are especially important during the pandemic as many children are struggling to adjust to new norms and are facing hardships. Our offices have mental health support and resources to help you & your family!

And while there is not yet a COVID-19 vaccine, staying on schedule with regular immunizations is key for your child's health and to help avoid an outbreak of preventable illnesses like measles & whooping cough. Well visits are a great opportunity to get caught up on any vaccines your child may need.

Call your pediatrician's office to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions!

Building Resilience

As parents, we want to protect our children from witnessing the fear and uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot control these circumstances, but we can work to strenghten our relationships while building our children's resilience. Some lifelong resilience skills we can teach them are:

• Self-forgiveness
• Empathizing
• Processing and releasing emotions
• Being a calming presence for others
• Stay present and live in reality

Uncertainty is frightening, but knowing that we are not alone to figure it out brings comfort. For more resilience skills and details on how to work on them, visit healthychildren.org