To leave self-isolation if you have been infected with Covid-19, you should not have a fever and will need to carry out two lateral flow tests at least 24 hours apart on days six and seven. If the tests return negative, then you are free to leave your home.
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced this new measure this afternoon during a Covid-19 update, which will come into effect from midnight tonight. The First Minister said: “While the initial advice when someone tests positive will still be to self-isolate for 10 days, there will now be an option to end isolation after seven days as long as you, firstly, have no fever and, secondly, you record two negative lateral flow tests, one no earlier than day 6 after testing positive and another at least 24 hours later.”
This change comes as Scotland sees an increase of 87% in the number of reported cases compared to last week, and according to new figures at least one in 20 people in Scotland have Covid-19. The weekly survey published by the Office of National Statistics shows the contrast by reporting that in the week to December 23, 1 in 40 people in Scotland had Covid-19.
Nicola Sturgeon said: “The proportion of people with Covid is likely to be even higher than that now, a few days later – and I would anticipate that we will see continued growth in the level of infection as work and school resume after the holiday period. In short, Covid is significantly more widespread now than at any stage in the pandemic so far, and will almost certainly become even more so in days to come.”
For those who have had three Covid-19 vaccinations and come into close contact with someone who has tested positive (including household contacts), they will no longer have to immediately self-isolate, but instead carry out a lateral flow test daily for seven days. And if one of these seven tests is a positive result, self- isolation will then be required.
The new measures, however, are only for those people in the community who have been vaccinated. In addition, Nicola Sturgeon has said that unvaccinated adults who have come into contact with a person who has been infected must still self-isolate for 10 days and carry out a PCR test after their estimated exposure to the virus.
In addition, from tomorrow, if the result of your lateral flow test is positive there will no longer be any need to take a PCR test to confirm the result. Instead, the First Minister said Scots must isolate immediately and also report their result online so that Test & Protect can commence the contact tracing process and give advice as quickly as possible. Those who test positive for Covid-19 will also receive an online form that you must fill in to ensure their contacts are notified.
The First Minister did not announce any changes to the current restrictions on large gatherings, the requirement for distancing between groups in public indoor places and for table service in hospitality venues serving alcohol on the premises, and this will remain in force for now until January 17, at the earliest.