Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the illness caused by a strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan city, China. It can cause a new continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste (anosmia).

Generally, coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people and those with long term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease. 

This is a rapidly changing situation which is being monitored carefully. 

To help protect yourself and others: 

• get the vaccine or the vaccine booster 
• take a lateral flow test before visiting a hospital or care home  – get lateral flow tests
• stay at home if you do not feel well 
• wear a face covering when visiting our premises 
• wash your hands regularly and cover your nose and mouth if coughing or sneezing
• open windows when meeting indoors
• work from home if you can

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Advice on coronavirus testing and isolation is changing 

From 1 May, most people in Scotland with coronavirus symptoms will no longer be advised to take a PCR test, and instead our advice will be that if you have respiratory symptoms that could be Covid, or another illness – and you have a fever or are unwell – you should stay at home in order to aid your recovery, and to reduce the risk of passing your illness onto others.

Test kits are no longer be available via the NHS, but remain available to certain groups in order to protect high risk settings, support clinical care and for surveillance purposes.

Testing remains available to groups including health and social care workers, care home and hospital visitors, patients groups eligible for treatment, hospital patients, unpaid carers and people in prison. If you’re visiting a hospital or care home, please take an LFD test first to help protect others.You can get your free LFD test ahead of your visit by ordering online or calling 119. Find out more at NHS Inform: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Get a test if you do not have symptoms | NHS inform

It is recommended that you inform your workplace and people you have recently been in contact with that you are feeling unwell for their awareness.

Young people can go back to school, college or early learning/childcare settings, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough to attend.

Further information on the stay at home guidance and measures you can take to limit the spread of Covid-19 can be found at Coronavirus in Scotland – Gov.scot and from Sunday 1 May on NHS Inform

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What to do if you have symptoms of Covid-19

If you have respiratory symptoms that could be Covid, or another illness – and you have a fever or are unwell – you should stay at home in order to aid your recovery, and to reduce the risk of passing your illness onto others.

It is recommended that you inform your workplace and people you have recently been in contact with that you are feeling unwell for their awareness.

Young people can go back to school, college or early learning/childcare settings, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough to attend.

Further information on the stay at home guidance and measures you can take to limit the spread of Covid-19 can be found at Coronavirus in Scotland – Gov.scot and from Sunday 1 May on NHS Inform

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The most common symptoms of Covid-19

The most common symptoms of Covid-19 are new:

• continuous cough
• Fever / high temperature (37.8°C or greater)
• loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste (anosmia)

A new continuous cough is where you:

• have a new cough that’s lasted for an hour
• have had 3 or more episodes of coughing in 24 hours
• are coughing more than usual

If your symptoms worsen during home isolation you should phone NHS 24 on 111. You should not call your GP practice regarding Coronavirus symptoms.

If the NHS 24 healthcare professional you speak to via 111 deems that you require further clinical assessment following their triage over the phone, you will be directed to the appropriate care locally.

If you need a sick note due to coronavirus, please don’t contact your GP or NHS 24. You can download a sick/isolation note directly from the NHS Inform website.

Full guidance and information is available on NHS Inform’s coronavirus page – www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus