MSP Angus tells Falkirk residents what to do if they are 'traced'

It is hoped Test and Protect will help Scotland gradually change the restrictions that help to suppress COVID-19 so society can adapt to a new normal.

Under the new system people who experience any one of the coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – must immediately self-isolate for a minimum of seven days.

And now, as soon as people start showing symptoms, they should visit www.nhsinform.scot or call 0800 028 2816 to arrange to get tested.

When contacting individuals who have tested positive, new teams of contact tracers will ask people to identify others who they have been in close contact with and places they have been 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms up until the time they’ve self-isolated.

This information will then be inputted into contact tracing software and used to identify and contact those identified.

The positive individual will not be named by the contact tracer in line with patient confidentiality, unless they agree to have their details disclosed to help the contact tracing process.

Falkirk East MSP Angus MacDonald said: “Contact tracers will introduce themselves, state the reason for their call, and will always identify who they are calling by name. They will not ask for information about bank accounts or medical records, and they will not try to sell you anything.

“I understand that people may be worried about the risks of potential phone scams, but the NHS already has a number of protections in place to stop potential fraudsters and ensure all information is kept confidential.

“The tracers will be supported by software which builds on a tried and trusted platform, allowing teams to identify outbreaks and reduce transmission for high risk groups here in Falkirk district.

“Trace and Protect is one way we will tackle this pandemic, but physical distancing and good hand hygiene continues to play a huge role as minimise the spread of infection.”