COWDENBEATH MSP Annabelle Ewing has assured constituents that the Test and Protect scheme to tackle coronavirus has protections against scammers built into it.

Ms Ewing has welcomed the Scottish Government’s approach to implementing the ‘test, trace, isolate, support’ strategy, Test and Protect, which is now live across the country after being piloted in Fife.

Ms Ewing also addressed concerns people might have that the system could be abused by scammers, saying: “Test and Protect will help us gradually change the restrictions that help to suppress COVID-19, so society can adapt to a new normal and I am pleased that after a successful pilot project here in Fife, it has now gone live across the country.

“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 MSP added: “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.

“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".

However, Ms Ewing concluded that people should always keep their guard up against the virus: “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 the way to minimise the spread of infection.”