Scots showing relevant coronavirus symptoms will be tested at their local GP practice as the crisis deepens around the country.
The Scottish Government announced plans to extend its surveillance testing program for Covid – in a bid to monitor the spread of the virus in the community.
Patients experiencing coronavirus symptoms, including flu-like symptoms or general respiratory illness and underlying health conditions, will be tested by GPs.
The new measures from medical officials comes just two days after it was revealed a Scots patient who tested positive for the virus had died.
The program will be extended to GP practices covering up to 1.2 million people across all health boards in Scotland.
Scots who have been advised to stay at home and self-isolate for seven days will not be routinely tested and will be advised to contact their GP or phone NHS (if their condition worsens.)
NHS staff will also continue to be tested if they show symptoms.
It is hoped that the move will inform NHS
planning and allow resources to be directed where they are needed most .
Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, Catherine Calderwood, said: “This new approach to testing will enable us to understand the pattern and spread of coronavirus in the community, to develop a clear assessment of the situation and to predict the peak number of cases, without having to test everyone with possible symptoms.
“Those with mild symptoms do not need to be tested. They should continue to stay at home for seven days and only contact their GP or if their condition worsens.
“Everybody has a role to play in helping contain this outbreak by following the latest health advice and basic hygiene precautions such as washing hands frequently, not touching their face and covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. ”
People have tested for positive for the virus since the outbreak in Scotland earlier this month (Image: Daily Record)
It was revealed yesterday that 615 people across Scotland have so far tested positive
for coronavirus since the outbreak in the country earlier this month.The first Scots patient to die after testing positive for coronavirus was revealed by the Scottish Government on Friday.
It was confirmed that the patient was an older person with underlying health conditions who had passed away in the Lothian area.
The Sunday Mail reported that NHS Scotland could struggle
to cope with the crisis after it was revealed that hospitals have just fully-equipped intensive care beds available for victims of the bug.
(Read More )
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings