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Coronavirus: Nicola Sturgeon sets out testing and tracing strategy Coronavirus: Scottish test and trace system 'in place by end of May'
(32 minutes later)
People will have to be ready to self-isolate repeatedly under the Scottish government's plans for using testing and tracing to suppress coronavirus. The Scottish government hopes to have a testing and tracing system to suppress coronavirus in place by the end of May.
Testing for the virus has already been ramped up across the UK as laboratory capacity has increased.Testing for the virus has already been ramped up across the UK as laboratory capacity has increased.
Now a new paper has set out how the Scottish government plans to use this to suppress Covid-19 when lockdown restrictions start to be eased.Now a new paper has set out how the Scottish government plans to use this to suppress Covid-19 when lockdown restrictions start to be eased.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned there will be "no quick fixes". Thousands of contact tracing staff are to be taken on, and new digital tools including an app are being developed.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned there will be "no quick fixes" and that easing up on restrictions early could "extinguish the light at the end of the tunnel".
She said the testing and tracing strategy would work alongside other virus suppression measures, including physical distancing, hand washing and the use of face coverings.She said the testing and tracing strategy would work alongside other virus suppression measures, including physical distancing, hand washing and the use of face coverings.
She said lockdown was likely to continue for now, but outlined some of the measures that the country could transition to "just as soon as the evidence tells us its safe to do so".
The Scottish and UK governments are working on plans to gradually ease the restrictions on everyday life which were imposed in March to slow the spread of the virus.The Scottish and UK governments are working on plans to gradually ease the restrictions on everyday life which were imposed in March to slow the spread of the virus.
Ms Sturgeon has warned that lockdown will not be lifted in a "flick of the switch" moment, and that a "new normal" will have to be established until a vaccine has been developed, Ms Sturgeon has warned that lockdown will not be lifted in a "flick of the switch" moment, and that a "new normal" will have to be established until a vaccine has been developed.
The latest review of the lockdown is due this week, but the first minister has said it "may very well be too early" to start lifting restrictions "in any meaningful way". The latest review of the lockdown is due this week, but the first minister said the infection rate "remains too high right now to make any meaningful change without risking the virus running quickly out of control".
The Scottish government paper says a "test, trace, isolate, support" approach will be a "key aspect" of the next phase of the battle against the virus.The Scottish government paper says a "test, trace, isolate, support" approach will be a "key aspect" of the next phase of the battle against the virus.
It says contact tracing will be used to identify the close contacts of people who have tested positive for the virus, who may have had it transmitted to them.It says contact tracing will be used to identify the close contacts of people who have tested positive for the virus, who may have had it transmitted to them.
This will include everyone who has been within two metres of a confirmed Covid-19 patient for 15 minutes or more.This will include 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.These people will then be asked to go into isolation for 14 days to reduce the risk of the virus spreading further.
Extra staff A support system for people in isolation will be implemented, modelled on the current "shielding" group.
The paper notes that "people may face self-isolation not just once, but on repeat occasions".The paper notes that "people may face self-isolation not just once, but on repeat occasions".
Ms Sturgeon said: "It is important to stress that 'test, trace, isolate' will be most effective when levels of infection are low - lower than now - and stay low, and that its success relies on all of us knowing and agreeing what to do if we have symptoms, and being prepared to self-isolate when advised to do so."Ms Sturgeon said: "It is important to stress that 'test, trace, isolate' will be most effective when levels of infection are low - lower than now - and stay low, and that its success relies on all of us knowing and agreeing what to do if we have symptoms, and being prepared to self-isolate when advised to do so."
Work is continuing to increase the capacity for coronavirus testing, with the paper noting that 15,500 tests per day will be needed to pursue a "test, trace, isolate" strategy.Work is continuing to increase the capacity for coronavirus testing, with the paper noting that 15,500 tests per day will be needed to pursue a "test, trace, isolate" strategy.
Around 2,000 extra staff will be taken on to run the contact tracing system.Around 2,000 extra staff will be taken on to run the contact tracing system.
A number of digital tools are being developed to help with this, including an app which people could download to their phones which could alert them if they have been near someone who later tests positive.A number of digital tools are being developed to help with this, including an app which people could download to their phones which could alert them if they have been near someone who later tests positive.
Ms Sturgeon said "real and significant progress" had been made in suppressing coronavirus, but she said it was "very likely that on Thursday I'll be asking you to stick with lockdown for a bit longer".
She said transmission in care homes "continue to be a big challenge", with a private care home in Skye the latest to suffer from a significant outbreak.
On Tuesday, the government is to set out further data about the infection rate and how quickly coronavirus is spreading in Scotland.
There have been 12,226 confirmed cases in Scotland so far. A total of 1,720 patients are in hospital with the virus, 99 of whom are in intensive care.
A total of 1,576 deaths of people who had tested positive have been recorded - although wider figures covering suspected cases have suggested the death toll is far higher.