A dramatic expansion of testing and staff who will identify people who need to self-isolate will be needed for the next phase of the Scottish Government’s virus response.

Scotland’s testing capacity will need to increase to at least 15,000 daily tests, the First Minister said as she revealed the first details of a test, trace, isolate and support strategy (TTI) soon to be implemented across Scotland.

Over 2,000 additional contact tracers also need to be recruited. They will be tasked with contacting anyone that someone who has developed symptoms of covid-19 has had close contact with, and advising them they need to self-isolate for 14 days.

The next phase of the virus response could be implemented by the end of the month, the First Minister said.

Anyone who develops symptoms will have to notify the NHS to arrange a test, provide details of anyone they have had recent contact with and isolate for 14 days, as will anyone who has been in close proximity to them.

Ms Sturgeon said the move, with the prospect of someone being told to isolate multiple times, could cause “significant disruption” to people’s lives.

Cooperation from the general public will be key to its success, Ms Sturgeon explained at today’s daily press briefing, where she encouraged people to start building their knowledge of what is being asked of them.

She cautioned that it will not be a “quick fix or magic solution” but instead be one part of attempts to suppress the virus and keep the transmission rate below one.

Other measures include “continued physical distancing, rigorous hygiene and the appropriate use of face coverings”.

The First Minister suggested an app that people can use to automatically alert anyone they have been in contact with if they develop virus symptoms.

She said the government had no intention of building its whole approach around this, but acknowledged it could play an “a very important part”.

Reports that Scotland’s streets had been busier over the weekend were raised by Ms Sturgeon, who reiterated the “hard fact” that TTI could only be implemented if lockdown rules are adhered to.

Ahead of the official review of current lockdown restrictions on Thursday, she repeated last week’s message that any easing of social restrictions was unlikely to be announced in the coming days.

Just yesterday the Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said it was too early to say whether cases of the virus were now under control in Scotland’s care homes.

Over the weekend the first cases of the virus were been detected in care home in Skye where an army-run mobile testing facility is being deployed.

“Although we are making real and significant progress,” the First Minister said, “the number of people being infected by the virus and the all-important R number remain too high right now to make any meaningful change without risking the virus running quickly out of control again.”

The First Minister has said the Government’s current assessment of levels of infection and the transmission rate will be set out tomorrow, and that prior to another official review of restrictions on the 28^th May, further details of the possible changes to lockdown will be delivered.

 

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