The Scottish Government has announced that the NHS Scotland’s 'Test and Protect' strategy to limit the community spread of COVID-19 will be introduced across all health boards in the country from Thursday, May 28 2020.
Starting Thursday, all individuals aged five years or more experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as a new continuous cough, high temperature or anosmia/dysgeusia, should contact the NHS to book a test.
Under the new strategy, individuals will be asked to isolate with their household as soon as they experience symptoms, and if their test results come out positive, they will be asked to provide details of all recent close contacts to NHS contact tracers. The contacts will then be traced and asked to isolate for 14 days. Guidance will also be provided on how to self-isolate safely, what plans are required to be made by households and families and how to protect the elderly or those with comorbidities.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The aim of Test and Protect is to protect the public from spreading COVID-19 and to protect the country from a second peak. It remains vital that alongside Test and Protect people continue to follow physical distancing advice and practise good hand and cough hygiene."
