Publication - Advice and guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Test and Protect

Last updated: 2 Mar 2022 - see all updates

Published: 18 Feb 2021

Part of:: Coronavirus in Scotland, Health and social care

Information and support for people who are asked to self-isolate because of COVID-19, including the Self-Isolation Support Grant (£500).

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Test and Protect

Close contact testing

If you are asked to self-isolate you should follow the self-isolation guidance on NHS Inform.

What you need to do

After being asked to self-isolate, you will be contacted by Test and Protect to begin the contact tracing process. If you are a close contact identified through Test and Protect, you will be issued with instructions on how to book a test.

You can also get help booking your test by calling 0800 028 2816.

Children under five years are encouraged but not required to take a PCR test. These children are no longer required to self-isolate as close contacts.

After receiving your test result

If you test positive for coronavirus, you will be contacted by Test and Protect to identify any close contacts that need to self-isolate and get tested.

Whether your test is positive or negative, you should continue to follow the self-isolation guidance on NHS Inform.

Make a plan for your household or family

How to self-isolate effectively

First published: 18 Feb 2021 Last updated: 2 Mar 2022 - show all updates

2 Mar 2022
Edits made to comply with gov.scot writing style guide
26 Jan 2022
Updated Care home/social care workers.
19 Jan 2022
Summary page changed to reflect latest position and remove reference to changes that came in on 6 January 2022 in respect of self-isolation.
6 Jan 2022
Summary page changed to reflect latest position and changes that came in on 6 January 2022 in respect of self-isolation.
6 Jan 2022
Updated Self-isolation Support Grant and updates to all self-isolation information to reflect latest changes.
23 Dec 2021
Updated to point to self-isolation guidance on NHS Inform.
23 Dec 2021
Updates to critical workers exemption page
16 Dec 2021
Care home/social care workers page updated.
15 Dec 2021
Note added to Care home/social care workers.
14 Dec 2021
Updated Who needs to self-isolate.
11 Dec 2021
Updated Self-isolation Support Grant.
10 Dec 2021
Updated summary, Introduction, Who needs to self-isolate, Make a plan for your household or family, Advice for employers and Care home/social workers.
10 Dec 2021
Added chapter on critical workers exemption.
8 Dec 2021
Updated Self-isolation Support Grant page.
8 Dec 2021
Update to who needs to self isolate page
7 Dec 2021
Update to who needs to self isolate page
6 Dec 2021
Updated Self-isolation support grant text.
3 Dec 2021
Text added to Self-isolation Support Grant regarding Omicron variant.
23 Nov 2021
Amended text on Care home/social care workers.
18 Nov 2021
Chapter added for care home/social care workers.
13 Oct 2021
Text changes to Self-isolation Support Grant.
9 Sep 2021
Updated Advice for employers.
26 Aug 2021
Updates to Close contact testing.
25 Aug 2021
Updates to Who needs to self-isolate, Make a plan for your household or family, After self-isolating at home and Advice for employers.
17 Aug 2021
Updated to clarify the contact tracing process for children.
13 Aug 2021
Changes to Who needs to isolate and Advice for employers
4 Aug 2021
Changes to Summary, Who needs to self isolate and Advice for employers in line with changes to self-isolation.
26 Jul 2021
Information on how to apply for the critical workers exemption updated.
23 Jul 2021
Added a section on self-isolation exemptions for critical workers.
18 Feb 2021
Added section on close contact testing.
16 Feb 2021
More information added on support grants.
14 Dec 2020
Changes made to multiple pages to reflect change in self-isolation period from 14 days to 10 days.
2 Dec 2020
Advice for employers page updated.
12 Oct 2020
Addition of info on support grants available
30 Jul 2020
CMO advice to self isolate changed from 7 days to 10 days.

Accessibility links

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Test and Protect

This document is part of a collection

Close contact testing

What you need to do

After receiving your test result

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