The 200,000 Scots most at-risk from coronavirus will receive new guidance from the Scottish Government.
Support will be offered to help those people self-isolate, said Deputy First Minister John Swinney, as he ordered the establishment of Humanitarian Assistance Centres across the country as soon as possible.
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood will also be writing to those identified as being at greatest risk in the coming days.
Mr Swinney said: “Responding to the coronavirus pandemic is the biggest challenge of our lifetimes, and we must do all we can to slow it down and save lives.
“That’s why we are asking people at the highest clinical risk to self-isolate for a long period, and our local services must prioritise them. This will help protect them, minimise the loss of life from Covid-19, and reduce the burden on the NHS in responding to patients who are likely to become severely unwell.
“I have every confidence in the capability of Scotland’s resilience community to effectively lead what will be the biggest response effort ever undertaken in peacetime. We know that it won’t be easy, but by working together everyone can play their part in keeping people safe.”
Support will be available through GPs and local partnerships and will include help with medical conditions, access to medicine and services and access to food and other supplies.
