All Scots over the age of five will be able to be tested for Covid-19 if they are displaying symptoms, the Scottish Government have announced.
Anyone who has a continuous cough, high temperature or has lost their sense of smell or taste will be able to book an appointment at a testing hub.
A limited number of home test kits are also available for ill Scots who are unable to access the dedicated testing sites in the five main cities or any of the mobile facilities.
Anyone wishing to book a test will be able to do it online and will be offered an appointment at their nearest testing site.
Covid-19 tests were previously only available to those over 65, key workers and to anyone who needed to work but could not do so from home.
The extension in testing eligibility comes ahead of the rollout of the new Test, Trace, Isolate and Support (TTIS) approach which will be used to keep transmission in communities low as the country moves out of lockdown.
The extension is a four nation, UK-wide expansion of testing however priority testing will still remain in place for key workers.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “This further expansion of testing will ensure that anyone with symptoms will be able to find out if they have COVID-19, and will therefore be able to know whether or not they should be isolating.
“As well as allowing more people to have a case of COVID-19 confirmed, today’s expansion will also be helpful as we build towards our strategy of test, trace, isolate and support – something that will be especially important as we start to emerge gradually from lockdown.
“This is vital in order to keep transmission in communities low.”
Experts have determined that children under the age of five are less likely to be affected by the killer virus but parents are still urged to contact NHS 24 if their child is unwell.
Tests can be booked online here.
