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COVID-19 and Children - Information for Patients

Frequently asked questions for BC Children’s patients about COVID-19.
April 6, 2023

On April 6, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced changes to the COVID-19 guidance for health care settings. Please check this page for further updates on how these changes may impact BC Children's Hospital. The best source of up-to-date information on COVID-19 in British Columbia is the BC Centre for Disease Control website, which includes information on COVID-19 and children. 

COVID-19 and pregnancy

Visit bcwomens.ca for info specific to pregnancy, childbirth and COVID-19.


 
 

If your child is waiting for a surgery, you will be contacted to reschedule their surgery.

 

‎For routine and non-urgent appointments within our outpatient clinics, if parents or children are feeling unwell with viral symptoms – these can include fever, cough, runny nose, vomiting or diarrhea – they should call the clinic they have the appointment with to determine if it should be postponed. A doctor or nurse will provide guidance.

 

For urgent outpatient appointments, families should still come even if they are sick – and to help protect staff and other patients, families should let their clinic know they have symptoms, and they should wear a mask if they are able to when they are inside the hospital. 

 
We also ask that all patients and families please continue to clean their hands at the hospital entrances and throughout their visit. 
 

 

Read about what to do if you or your child has symptoms of COVID-19 on the BCCDC website.

 

It is still safe to seek care. Please consider wearing mask if you have any cold or flu symptoms and please stay home if you are feeling unwell. We ask that you please continue to clean your hands at the hospital entrances and throughout your visit.

 

The most important thing you can do to prevent COVID-19 and other illnesses is to clean your hands regularly, avoid touching your face and stay one or two metres from other people. Please consider wearing a mask if you have any cold or flu symptoms. 


Find out more on the BCCDC website about:

 

On April 6, 2023, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced changes to the COVID-19 guidance for health care settings. This change included an end to universal masking.


To protect our clinically vulnerable patients, we will continue to make masks available at the entrances to our hospital. We may also require masks in some areas of our hospital.


Please consider wearing a mask if you have any cold or flu symptoms and please stay home if you are feeling unwell. We ask that you please continue to clean your hands at the hospital entrance and throughout your visit.


There will still be some situations where masks will be required in health-care settings or situations where they have always been required to protect high-risk patients against respiratory transmitted infections and protect workers against high-risk exposure to infectious diseases.


Thank you for your patience as we work to make these changes.

When should I seek emergency care?

For information on when to bring your child to the BC Children's Emergency Department, please read this BC Children's story.

 

‎So far, COVID-19 has affected adults much more than children. We think it is less severe, particularly in children under the age of 10.

 

 

B.C. has opened COVID-19 vaccine registration to all children and youth, aged six months and older. For more information on vaccines and boosters for children, please see the BCCDC website.


Caregivers can register children ages six months and older for COVID-19 vaccination here.


Everyone born in 2009 or earlier (12+) is eligible to register for the COVID-19 vaccine. Please see the Government of BC website to register.


 
 

‎If your child is at higher risk for COVID-19 complications, follow general infection prevention strategies: clean your hands regularly, avoid touching your face, and stay one or two metres from other people. Should your child become ill, seek medical help early. Try to have enough medicine for two weeks at home. For more information, see the BCCDC website.


 

 

Find out more on this BCCDC website.

 

 

A  gradual return to activity typically involves gradual increases in intensity and duration of exercise over a period of time, but depends on the severity and duration of the illness. Please work on your child’s plan to return to activity with your health-care provider.

 

 

In general – with viral illness that includes a fever, muscle aches, or difficulty breathing – moderate or vigorous exercise should be avoided. If symptoms worsen, exercise should be stopped.

 

More online resources about COVID-19

For the latest COVID-19 updates, follow the BCCDC Twitter account @CDCofBC and read the latest BC Government news releases on COVID-19 at https://news.gov.bc.ca/Search?q=COVID.
SOURCE: COVID-19 and Children - Information for Patients ( )
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