New Guidance on Covid-19
The Scottish Government updated its Covid-19 advice guidance on 13 June 2024 following a review by Public Health Scotland and Scottish Government clinicians. As a result of this review, the advice to self-isolate for five days after a positive Covid-19 test has been removed.1 The Government’s guidance as published on NHS inform now states:
“To prevent the spread of infection, you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you’re unwell. When you no longer have a fever (if you had one) and don’t need medicine to control your fever, you can return to normal activities. For example, work, school, and social events. There’s no specific time limit you need to avoid contact with others. You can use 48 hours as a rough guide.”2
Note that if you have respiratory symptoms, you should avoid people who are at high risk of getting Covid-19, as well as hospitals and care homes.3
The guidance for residents of older adult care homes is different. If they have tested positive for Covid-19, they need to self-isolate for at least five days and until they’ve been fever-free without taking temperature controlling medication for at least 48 hours.4
The Scottish Government has also stated most people no longer need to take a coronavirus test.5 To help you determine if you have it and what steps to take, you can access a self-help guide on NHS inform’s website. If you have a health condition that makes you eligible for Covid-19 treatment, you can still get free tests.6 Note that the Scottish Government also recently removed routine asymptomatic Covid-19 testing before discharge from Scottish hospitals to care homes and hospices from its guidance.7
Since 30 August 2023, the Scottish Government has asked health and social care staff experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 to follow the Covid-19 advice on NHS inform.8 Health and social care staff who work in higher clinical risk areas should discuss returning to work after Covid-19 with their line manager using a risk assessment approach. Certain adjustments may have to be made. For example, staff working with severely immune-compromised individuals might need to initially return to non-clinical work.9
Sources
1 Notice of changes to Scottish Government’s COVID-19 testing guidance
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
5 Ibid.
7 Advance notice of changes to the Scottish Government’s COVID-19 testing guidance
8 Notice of changes to Scottish Government’s COVID-19 testing guidance
