Cases of coronavirus in Scotland reached a record high during this year's Christmas period, with over 15,000 new cases announced today.
This means that there are many of us self-isolating - whether we ourselves are infected or have been in contact with someone who has the virus during the festivities.
Unfortunately, this year has seen lots of Scots forced to spend time away from loved ones - even during Christmas Day itself.
But what are the current self-isolation rules in Scotland?
In Scotland, you are required to isolate if you have symptoms of coronavirus, have tested positive - whether that be via a lateral flow or a PCR test- you live with someone who has symptoms of the virus but has not yet received their results and also if you live with someone who has a positive test result.
Rules have now changed in terms of household isolation. This means that even if your test returns a negative result, if you live with someone who has tested positive you must also self-isolate.
This is to help curb the spread of the new Omicron variant.
Here is all you need to know about Scotland's current rules and what you must do if required to self-isolate.
Self-isolating due to symptoms
According to the NHS, the main symptoms are a new:
- continuous cough
- fever/high temperature (37.8C or greater)
- loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste (anosmia)
However, there are now thought to be as many as 20 coronavirus symptoms
These include a runny nose, headache, and fatigue which are the most common symptoms reported for cases of the Omicron variant.
If you are experiencing any symptoms of Covid-19, you should book a PCR test as soon as possible
You can do this by visiting the NHS Inform website or by calling 0800 028 2816 if you are unable to get online.
You should self-isolate at home straight away along with other members of your household.
Close contact self-isolation
If infected with Covid, you are most likely to pass on the disease from two days before your symptoms start until up to ten days after.
This means that those spending time with an infected person during this time may have caught coronavirus.
Close contacts are counted from two days before the test date.
There are two types of close contacts under current rules.
- Household contacts
As explained above, under the current rules Scots who live with a person who has tested positive for Covid will be required to isolate regardless of their own personal test result or vaccination status.
If the person who has tested positive in your household has symptoms, self-isolate for 10 days from the date their symptoms started.
If they do not have symptoms, you will be required to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of their test.
- Non-household contacts
NHS Scotland will consider you as a non-household close contact if:
- have had face-to-face contact less than one metre apart from the person who tested positive for any length of time
- have had any contact less than one metre apart from the person who tested positive for 1 minute or longer
- have been within two metres of the person who tested positive for more than 15 minutes
- car-shared with the person who has tested positive
If you have are identified as a non-household close contact, you should self isolate right away and book a PCR test as soon as possible
Unlike household contacts, there are certain circumstances where you can end you period of isolation.
You can end self-isolation if all of the following apply:
- you're fully vaccinated – this means you’ve received two doses of an approved vaccine and have had your second dose more than 14 days ago (you do not need to have had your booster dose)
- you receive a negative PCR test result (or, if you've had a positive PCR in the last 90 days, a negative LFD test result)
- you do not have symptoms
If these do not apply, you must self-isolate for a period of ten days.
These ten days begin from the day you saw the infected person.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
