Exclusion Periods for Common Infectious Illnesses

Illness	Incubation period	Infectious period	Exclusion period
Chicken pox	13 to 17 days	1 to 2 days before rash appears until all spots scabbed over (usually 5 to 7 days)	When all spots are scabbed over (minimum of 5 days from rash).
Conjunctivitis	12 hours to 3 days	As long as symptoms are present	None.
Gastroenteritis / diarrhoea and vomiting	A few hours to a few days	Not always infectious	Until free of symptoms for 48 hours.
Hand, foot and mouth disease	3 to 5 days	4 to 6 days	None.
Slapped cheek	4 to 14 days	7 to 10 days before rash appears then no longer infectious	None (as no longer infectious once it is diagnosed).
Impetigo	4 to 10 days	While the spots are discharging pus	Once the lesions have crusted or healed or 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment.
Respiratory infections including COVID-19	Most commonly 2 to 5 days	Children are unlikely to be highly infectious after 3 days from onset of symptoms	Exclusion required for the duration of a high temperature and/or whilst the child feels unwell. Children with mild symptoms such as runny nose and headache but who are otherwise well can continue to attend. Children who have had a positive COVID-19 test result should not attend the setting for 3 days after the day of the test.
Cold sores	2 to 12 days	While ‘active’ cold sore is present	Not needed. Avoid kissing and contact with the sores.
Unexplained diarrhoea and/or vomiting (e.g. car sickness, teething, coughing etc.)	N/A	N/A	At manager’s discretion: (if there are other cases of diarrhoea and/or vomiting, the child may be excluded as a precaution).