Nicola Sturgeon has backed the plan to introduce a universal testing scheme across Scotland.
The First Minister made the announcement at her coronavirus briefing at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh earlier today.
It comes after the UK Government said that people in England will be offered twice-weekly quick-result lateral flow tests in a bid to stamp out asymptomatic transmission as the lockdown eases.
Boris Johnson confirmed on Monday that lateral flow tests which can provide results in around 30 minutes will be available to people in England from Friday.
Sturgeon came under growing pressure to follow the UK government lead after Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar backed plans for twice-weekly coronavirus tests to be available to Scots.
Sarwar said Boris Johnson’s proposal to offer everyone in England free, twice-weekly tests from Friday is a “really strong idea”.
In Scotland the tests are only available in limited settings, for example in schools and at high-risk workplaces.
Sturgeon said: "I can also confirm today that – to support the further easing of restrictions – we will further expand the availability of testing.
"We do intend to move to a situation where lateral flow tests are available twice a week on a universally accessible basis.
"We will set out more detail later this week on how tests can be accessed and from when.
"This testing will be in addition to and supplement existing testing in the priority areas, and it will allow us to assess the impact on transmission."
