Updated guidance on managing the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
has published.
As restrictions ease, the way Scotland deals with COVID-19 is now
shifting from containing the virus nationally through lockdown to
monitoring and responding to localised outbreaks wherever and
whenever they occur.
COVID-19: Surveillance and Response sets out
how existing planning arrangements and guidance will be applied
to continue to suppress the virus at a national and
local level including the timely and co-ordinated sharing of data
between key organisations including local health professionals,
local authorities and other local responders.
The publication is accompanied by updated Public Health Scotland
guidance on the management of public health incidents to reflect
the new COVID-19 legislation.
NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect programme will continue to play a
significant role in the ability to monitor the ongoing impact of
COVID-19 within communities across Scotland.
Deputy First Minister said:
“As we move into the next phase on easing lockdown restrictions
we know that our response to the pandemic also needs to adapt.
Monitoring the virus and taking action to suppress transmission
is increasingly important.
“Scotland has a world class public health system and our
surveillance and response approach, along with NHS Scotland’s
Test and Protect programme and local resilience services, will
enable us to respond rapidly and collaboratively to any incident
or outbreak at a local, regional and a national level.
“Of course, we all need to continue to play our part to reduce
the risk of the virus spreading through physical distancing, good
hand and respiratory hygiene and the appropriate use of face
coverings.
“Though the transmission of the virus in the community is now at
much lower levels, we must still ensure that where clusters of
cases develop, we find them and act quickly to prevent further
spread.
“The rapid and targeted response to the cluster in Dumfries and
Galloway by services at both a local and national level
demonstrated that Scotland has a well developed and tested
approach to the management of public health outbreaks.
“We must all remain vigilant and our surveillance and response
approach will ensure that we are ready to react to what lies
ahead.”
Background
COVID-19: Surveillance and
Response
The updated Public Health Guidance for
the Management of Public Health Incidents sets out the
tried and tested processes to investigate and manage local or
national health outbreaks and has been updated to reflect
COVID-19 legislation and the introduction of Public Health
Scotland in April this year.
Test and
Protect was rolled out across Scotland on 28 May 2020.
People with any of the following symptoms should book a test at
nhsinform.scot/test-and-protect or call 0800 028 2816 if they are
unable to access the online service:
- a high temperature or fever
- a new continuous cough
- a loss of, or change in sense of smell or taste
