No coronavirus contact tracers have been hired by the Scottish Government weeks after the Test, Trace and Isolate (TTI) programme was announced.
The TTI programme was announced by Nicola Sturgeon on May 5 as a main factor in the Government's plan to end lockdown.
Almost 8,500 people have applied online for the 2000 roles roles as call handlers, data analysts and heath protection nurses, reports the Sunday Mail.
However, the Contact Tracing Team is yet to hire any staff.
Adverts have appeared on social media stating: “We need people to join our new Contact Trace Team to help stop the spread of #coronavirus. Roles available include call handlers, data analysts and health protection nurses.”
Recruiters were offered the services of skilled volunteers from St Andrew’s First Aid charity but failed to respond for eight days.
When they eventually did, its chief executive Stuart Callison was told to apply using the same email provided to the general public.
The TTI system requires contact tracing to identify the close contacts of people who have tested positive for the virus, who may have had it transmitted to them.
This includes everyone who has been within two metres of a confirmed Covid-19 patient for 15 minutes or more.
These people will then be asked to go into isolation for 14 days to reduce the risk of the virus spreading further.
A support system for people in isolation will be implemented, modelled on the current "shielding" group.
The Scottish Government has admitted that 13 days after the initial strategy document was published, no roles have been filled.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Following the launch of our Test, Trace, Isolate, Support Strategy, we are actively supporting the efforts of NHS Scotland health boards to enhance the public health workforce, including through a national print and social media campaign, advertising contact tracing roles.”
“Further to the correspondence received from the chief executive of St Andrew’s First Aid, Scottish Government officials are considering the offer to provide contact tracing staff.
“Officials have already advised how individuals may seek to express their interest in contact tracing roles and have signalled that we will write again, having fully considered the offer.”
