NHS boards are rolling out a testing programme to monitor the “expected wave” of covid-19 infection in Scotland in the coming months.

A letter from Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr Gregor Smith has outlined details of a programme of enhanced surveillance of the virus in the community, which will begin next week.

The data gathered will inform “scientific modelling, political decision-making around social interventions” as well as helping to “maintain a functioning NHS”.

The first stage of the programme is aimed at establishing levels of virus infection in those who have mild or moderate illness and remain unwell at home.

Coronavirus testing will be offered to 100 patients a day across Scotland who have had mild flu-like or respiratory symptoms for less than five days, remain in self-isolation at home and have been given advice by phone.

This group will be given self-swabs which will then be collected for laboratory analysis.

Another 100 patients a day who have moderate illness and attend NHS board assessment centres will also be screened, with tests carried out by a medical practitioner.

In the letter, sent to NHS directors and health and social care partnerships, Dr Smith states: “This enhanced surveillance will have a number of strands.

“This letter describes the first strand to go live in Scotland – the community component.

“The community component of this programme is being rapidly rolled out across all NHS health boards in the coming days and your support is needed to make this operational by Monday 27th April 2020.”