Test and Protect to be launched in Scotland

THE Scottish Government will launch a Test and Protect programme from Thursday.

Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms will be tested and if they return a positive Coronavirus test, their close contacts will be contacted and asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

The definition of a close contact is anyone in their household, face to face contacts and people you have been within two metres of for 15 minutes or more.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that a team of 2000 contact tracers will be recruited by the end of the month.

However, she believes that only 700 will be required in the early phase of the programme.

The Test and Protect programme is designed to help stop a second wave of Coronavirus and keep it supressed.

Ms Sturgeon said: "This will operate on a scale never seen before in Scotland."

People with symptoms will be asked to make contact through the NHS Inform website.

The First Minister said the testing programme was essential if further easing of the lockdown is to be possible.

She reported a further 18 deaths from Coronavirus in Scotland, taking the total to 2291.

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