Scotland's self-isolation rules are changing this week, with different rules depending on whether you are vaccinated.
The changes were confirmed by First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, in her announcement yesterday and come into force on Thursday, January 6.
As well as alterations to testing rules, it means that there are now different isolation rules dependent on your vaccination status.
Scots who are considered 'fully vaccinated' will be able to cut their isolation period from 10 to seven days - but only if they have no fever and record two negative lateral flow tests (LFTs).
Importantly, the definition of 'fully vaccinated' is now different in Scotland.
Previously, if you had received jab one as well as vaccine two 14 days previous, you would be deemed fully vaccinated.
However, Scotland's rules now mean that all three doses of the Covid vaccine must be taken in order to be considered fully vaccinated - including the new booster jab.
Those who are not fully vaccinated will be required to continue with their ten-day isolation.
If you have not yet received three doses of the vaccine - jab one, two and a booster - you will be required to isolate for 10 days if deemed a close contact of someone who has tested positive for the virus.
However, close contacts who are considered fully vaccinated do not need to isolate as long as they return a negative LFD test result each day for seven consecutive days, and remain fever-free.
Isolation can only end if you test negative on both LFTs and do not have any symptoms. Lateral flow tests must be taken on day six of isolation and then again 24 hours later.
Reasoning the changes, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "When the Omicron variant started to take hold, we strengthened self-isolation requirements, so that all household contacts had to self isolate for 10 days.
"That step was intended to slow the spread of the variant. It also reflected the fact that we knew less about the severity of the virus at that time, and that less of the population had protection from booster and third jags.
"We are now in a very different position – and so we can now adopt different rules.
"These changes are significant, but we believe they are also justified at this phase of the pandemic. They balance the importance of self-isolation – in slowing the virus’s spread and reducing the harm it can cause – with the wider harms to the economy that broader self-isolation rules can cause."
You can see the full details of all the changes on the Scottish Government website here.
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