Self-isolation rules for close contacts of people infected with Covid have come into the spotlight once again.
Tory Health Secretary Sajid Javid revealed that he had tested positive for the virus on Saturday,
In a video, the UK Government minister said that he had received both vaccinations and was experiencing ‘mild’ symptoms.
Speculation mounted after it had emerged that the 51-year-old had been in a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak at No 10 on Friday.
The pair said that they had been ‘pinged’ by the NHS contact tracing app but would avoid self-isolating as they are ‘taking part in a pilot daily testing programme’.
After widespread anger, Johnson performed a dramatic U-turn and announced that he would be self-isolating at his Chequers country retreat.
But question marks remain over the current quarantine rules for those who come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus - especially with lockdown restrictions easing in both Scotland and England tomorrow.
What is contact tracing?
NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect scheme is being used to help stop the spread of coronavirus across the country.
Similar services have been implemented in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and across the globe.
But contact tracing is not a new phenomenon - it has actually been utilised for a number of years for a range of infectious diseases.
Who is contact traced?
Anyone who is deemed to be a close contact to someone who has tested positive for coronavirus will be pinged by the Test and Protect app or phoned by someone on NHS Scotland’s contact tracing team.
Scots who record a positive Covid test will be put in touch with an NHS contact tracer, who will help them to identify who they have been in close contact with.
They will then be asked which places they went to during the period they tested positive and the people they were two metres or closer to for at least 15 minutes.
Protect Scotland app users will be alerted if they have come into close contact with another user who goes on to test positive for the virus.
How long do close contacts need to isolate for?
Contact tracers will then be in touch with the people who they deem to be a close contact and ask them to self-isolate for 10 days.
They will not be told the identity of the infected person, unless they give their permission for their name to be shared.
Close contacts may be asked to book a test to help further slow the spread of Covid - but they will have to continue their period of quarantine even if they test negative for the virus.
Fully vaccinated close contacts will also still need to isolate under the current rules.
Is there support for close contacts?
If you are a low income worker and Test and Protect tell you self-isolate then you may be able to get a £500 self-isolation support grant from the Scottish Government.
Scots can check to see if they are eligible by visiting here.
Anyone who cannot do their job at home can provide their employer with an isolation note - which says that the close contact cannot come into the work place.
Isolation notes can be found here.
