Freeman 'confident' Test and Protect will be taken seriously

Health secretary Jeane Freeman is confident people will take the Test and Protect scheme seriously and continue to follow lockdown rules with a “spirit of solidarity”.

It follows polling commissioned by the Scottish Government suggesting a large majority of the public supports the measures aimed at controlling the spread of coronavirus.

Under the test, trace and isolate scheme, households are told to stay at home as soon as anyone experiences symptoms and apply for a test on the NHS Inform website.

Ms Freeman said: “Test and Protect is an essential step in our response to Covid-19.

“We are taking this step now because it’s the appropriate thing to do for this stage of the virus.

“As with lockdown, we need everyone to take this next step very seriously.

“They have done this so far and I am very confident they will step up to show the same spirit of solidarity and care for each other as before.”

Anyone testing positive for the virus will be asked to provide details of people they have been in close contact with to NHS contact tracers, who will then be asked to isolate for 14 days.

A survey of 1037 adults across Scotland, carried out by YouGov for the Scottish Government, found 88% are willing to provide details of contacts if they develop coronavirus symptoms.

The same proportion also said they would want a test – if at all possible – if they develop symptoms.

Asked if they “understand the importance of testing to stop the spread of coronavirus”, 91% of respondents said they do.

The survey was carried out between May 19 and May 21, before both the introduction of the Test and Protect scheme and the controversy caused by the Prime Minister’s senior aide Dominic Cummings flouting lockdown guidance.

Speaking on Thursday after the First Minister announced an easing of lockdown, Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw said: “Nicola Sturgeon admitted to being nervous about this phase of the exit and no wonder.

“It will only work if testing is up to scratch, and so far that has not been the case.

“We still don’t really know what happened to the 2000 tracers who were meant to be in place by the end of the month, nor how long it will be until the system is in full swing.”

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “We want to see the Test and Protect system work effectively in stopping the spread of Covid-19 but for there to be confidence in the system there must be assurances from the government that all the testing capacity available is fully used – this hasn’t been the case so far.”

Anyone with the symptoms of Covid-19 – a new continuous cough, temperature, loss or change in sense of taste or smell – can go online to nhsinform.scot to book a test.

People who cannot access the internet can also call 0800 028 2816.