Sturgeon to set out 'test, trace, isolate and support' plans

Nicola Sturgeon is to set out plans for a ‘test, trace, isolate and support’ strategy to suppress coronavirus in the months ahead.

At her briefing on Monday, the First Minister will explain the Scottish Government’s plan to disrupt “community transmission” of the virus.

She has previously said such an approach will help Scotland “emerge gradually from lockdown”.

A paper called Test, Trace, Isolate, Support will be published, setting out the steps individuals are required to take.

These will be in addition to the hand-washing and physical distancing guidelines established earlier in the outbreak.

The UK’s lockdown measures are due to be reviewed on May 7.

Last week, Sturgeon said the progress in curbing the infection rate may still be too “fragile” to allow restrictions to be eased at that point.

Ahead of her briefing on Monday, the First Minister said: “The advice remains the same – staying at home and only making essential journeys is saving lives.

“Keeping physical distance in the limited circumstances when you have to be around people and continuing to regularly wash your hands are still the best way to reduce your risk of infection.”

She added: “Physical distancing has helped to reduce the prevalence of the virus and cut the number of people in serious conditions in our hospitals, however, as and when we make changes to the current lockdown restrictions alternative measures will need to be in place.”

“Test, trace, isolate and support will be one of a number of actions we will have to put in place to maintain suppression of the virus, to interrupt chains of infection and disrupt the spread and will require the support of everyone in our society to be effective.

“At today’s briefing I will set out more information on the approach we are taking and what people will be required to do, under this approach.”