GPs have been coming under pressure from parents requesting certificates to declare their child free of COVID-19 to enable them to return to school or childcare.

But RACGP president Dr Harry Nespolon says it is not possible to write such a certificate or to declare the child free of the virus causing the illness, SARS-CoV-2, unless they have served their 14 days’ self-isolation.

He says doctors at his practice have been dealing with such requests, especially since the school year began, as have other GPs around the country.

“If you’ve got children, the last thing you are going to want to do is spend 14 days at home, missing work, looking after them while they are in isolation, as recommended if you’ve been in an at-risk situation,” he told 6minutes.