Most people no longer need to take a coronavirus test. To prevent the spread of infection, you should try to stay at home if you’re unwell. You can still access testing if you have a health condition which means you’re eligible for coronavirus treatments.
Coronavirus, and other respiratory infections such as flu, can spread easily and cause serious illness in some people. Vaccinations are very effective at preventing serious illness from coronavirus. But there’s still a chance you might catch coronavirus, or another respiratory infection, and pass it on to other people.
To prevent the spread of coronavirus, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have symptoms of a respiratory infection such as coronavirus and you:
Try to do this until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you feel better.
Symptoms of coronavirus include:
Antibiotics will not relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.
You might continue to have a cough or feel tired after your other symptoms have improved. This does not mean that you’re still infectious.
You or your child:
If your GP is closed, phone 111. In an emergency phone 999.
It’s particularly important to get help if you’re at increased risk of becoming more unwell from coronavirus such as if you’re pregnant, aged 60 or over, or have a weakened immune system.
Most people in Scotland no longer need to test for coronavirus.
You can still access testing if you have a health condition which means you’re eligible for coronavirus treatments.
If you’re eligible for free NHS tests and you cannot place an order online, phone 0800 008 6587. The helpline is free from mobiles and landlines. Lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. Lines are closed on Sundays and bank holidays. They have a translation service. SignVideo (a free online British Sign Language interpreter service) is also available.
Unless you have a health condition which means you’re eligible for coronavirus treatments, you’re not eligible for free NHS testing. You should not order online or phone for a test. You will not be able to get one this way.
You can buy tests from some pharmacies and shops, in person and online.
There are things you can do to reduce the spread of infection if you have symptoms, have tested positive, or are a close contact.
If you aren’t eligible for testing and you have symptoms of a respiratory infection such as coronavirus and have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. Try to do this until you no longer have a high temperature (if you had one) or until you feel better.
If you have a positive coronavirus test result, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test, or from the day your symptoms started (whichever was earlier). You should count the day after you took the test as day 1.
If a child or young person aged 18 or under has a positive coronavirus test result, they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test or from the day their symptoms started (whichever was earliest), if they can. Children and young people tend to be infectious for less time than adults.
Although many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days, some people may be infectious to other people for up to 10 days from the start of their infection.
If you have a high temperature or still feel unwell after the 5 days, continue to try to stay at home. Try to stay at home until you:
This will help reduce the risk of spreading the virus.
You should avoid meeting people at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from coronavirus, especially those whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness from coronavirus for 10 days after the day you took your test.
If you’ve received a positive test result and have been following the stay at home advice, you do not need to test after the 5 day period unless you’ve been advised to do so by a health professional.
Respiratory infections are common in children and young people, particularly during the winter months. Symptoms can be caused by several respiratory infections including the common cold, coronavirus and RSV.
For most children and young people, these illnesses will not be serious. They’ll soon recover following rest and plenty of fluids.
Very few children and young people with respiratory infections become seriously unwell.
Children and young people with mild symptoms who are otherwise well, can continue to attend their education setting. Mild symptoms include a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough.
Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they’re well enough to attend.
It’s not recommended that children and young people are tested for coronavirus unless advised to by a healthcare professional.
Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive coronavirus test result should continue to attend as normal.
The Self-Isolation Support Grant closed on 5 January 2023. Visit the Scottish Government’s Cost of Living support to find out about other financial help available.
Last updated:
20 November 2023