Scots across the country are being contacted as part of the Test and Protect scheme to help contain the spread of coronavirus.

But how does the scheme work, and what do you do if you've been contacted?

What is Test and Protect?

Test and Protect is a public health measure, which is designed to interrupt the spread of coronavirus in the community.

It identifies people who have had the virus, as well as tracing those who have been in close contact with an infected person. They will only trace people who have been in contact for a long enough period of time to be at risk of infection.

How does Test and Protect work?

Anyone who has tested positive for Covid-19 will be put in touch with their local contact tracing team.

What if I have tested positive?

If you have tested positive, contact tracers will:

  • contact you by phone or text message – there’s no need to log in to a website
  • ask you who you live with, who you have been physically close to recently and where you have been
  • decide which of these people might be infected based on how long they spent with you and how physically close they were
  • contact these people to tell them to isolate for 14 days

You should self-isolate for ten days from the date your symptoms starts, or the date your test was done if you have no symptoms.

What are close contacts?

You are considered to be a close contact if you:

  • have been informed by an NHS contact tracer that you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive
  • live with a person who has symptoms or has tested positive

What if I have been identified as a close contact?

If you are a close contact but do not live with the person who has tested positive, you should isolate at home for 14 days from the last day you had contct.

Test and Protect teams will tell you what day this was.

What if I am a close contact but tested negative?

Even if you have tested negative, you still need to self-isolate. Health bosses say you could still be incubating the virus.

What happens after the 14 days?

If you haven't developed symptoms in the two weeks of isolation, then you can stop self-isolating. However, you should continue to follow physical distancing measures.

If you have developed symptoms, you must isolate for ten days from the day your symptoms started and arrange to be tested.

You should do this even if it takes you over your 14-day isolation period.

What about the rest of my household?

The rest of your household should isolate for 14 days from the day your symptoms started.

All other extended household members who had contact with the symptomatic person 2 days before their symptoms started or up to 7 days after their symptoms started should isolate for 14 days.

What do I tell my work?

You can send an isolation note to your employer to provide proof that you need to stay off. You do not need to get a note from your GP.

Instead, get an isolation note here.