If you are 5 years of age or older and live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 and are not required by law to self-isolate, you are strongly advised to: The Scottish Government advises people to minimise social contact to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and has issued guidelines that, When meeting other households indoors, try to stick to a maximum of 3 households during socializing. This recommendation is currently under review and should apply until at least January 17. It is not legally binding, but it is important to minimize contact with other households to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You must maintain a physical distance of at least one metre between groups of no more than three households when visiting a holiday home. If you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 and are over 18 years and 6 months old and not fully vaccinated, you are required by law to self-isolate. This does not apply if you have participated or are currently participating in an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial or if you cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons. Do not go to work, school or public places and do not use public transport or taxis. Young people aged 12 to 17 should gather in small groups of up to three households. The rules are slightly different for children and children under eighteen. On Sunday, May 1, 2022, isolation rules changed in Scotland. However, this does not mean that the virus is gone.
NHS Scotland has developed an app that notifies you if you have been in close contact (within 2m distance for 15 minutes or more) with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. You can also add your own positive test result to the app to notify others, but no one can see who they`ve come into contact with who has had COVID-19. Most people with COVID-19 will experience mild illness. Seek immediate medical attention if your illness or that of a member of your household worsens. You should get tested at least twice a week and especially if you socialize or mix with other households. Youth between the ages of 12 and 17 should try to gather in small groups whenever possible. There is no limit to the number of households for youth under 18, but they should try to keep a safe distance from others and pass a lateral flow test before the meeting. Self-isolation is one of the most important things we can do to stop the spread of the virus and protect our friends and family, our community and the NHS. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive, or have been told that you have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, self-isolation is the only way to ensure that you are not transmitting COVID-19 to others. If you are asked to self-isolate, you must do so immediately. Find out what support you can get if you are affected by COVID-19. If you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, you must follow the rules for close contacts who are fully vaccinated.
For individual visits to nursing homes, no more than two households should visit a patient at the same time. You should have a lateral flow test before each visit to a nursing home. If you are looking for extra support for yourself or someone you know, you can get more information on the Ready Scotland website. Seek immediate medical attention if your illness or that of a member of your household worsens. If it is not an emergency, contact the NHS 111 or NHS 111 online COVID-19 service for other health issues. If you don`t have internet access, call NHS 111. You should stay home if you can, and limit the amount of social contact you have with other people – gather in groups of no more than three households. People who live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19. They could transmit the disease to others, even if they feel well. The service is designed to receive as few details as necessary from you.
This data is kept securely for 21 days before being deleted, unless someone who is part of the NHS Test and Protect response team is required to keep it longer for public health reasons. Stay as far away from other members of your household as possible. If possible, avoid common areas such as kitchens and other living spaces while others are present, and take your meals back to your room to eat. Wear a face covering or surgical mask when spending time in common areas of your home. Do not invite social visitors or allow them into your home, including your friends and family. If you want to talk to someone who is not a member of your household, use phone, email, or social media. If necessary, the police can impose fines of £60 (halved to £30 if paid within 28 days) if you fail to comply with this law without reasonable excuse; e.g., being exempted due to medical conditions or communicating with a lip-reading hearing-impaired person. Other people in your household may also need to self-isolate. The following section provides information about what other members of your household need to do. You may receive a notification that you or your child are a low-risk contact. Notifications are usually sent by schools or kindergartens to children who have shared a classroom with someone who has tested positive. Cleaning wipes and personal waste such as used tissues and disposable face coverings should be stored in disposable garbage bags.
These bags must be placed in another bag, securely attached and set aside for at least 72 hours before being placed in your usual outdoor garbage can. Other household waste can be disposed of as usual. Staying home and isolating for long periods of time can be difficult, frustrating, and lonely for some people, and you or other household members may feel depressed. This can be especially difficult if you don`t have much space or access to a garden. Work out in your home, garden or private outdoor space. Follow general tips to reduce the spread of infection in your household. If possible, use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household. If a separate bathroom is not available, try to use the facilities last before cleaning the bathroom with your usual cleaning products. The bathroom should be cleaned regularly. The rules for self-isolation after contact with a positive case are broadly similar across the UK.
Find out about the rules for travelling to Scotland and check if a country is on the red list. If you are fully vaccinated or are under 18 and 6 months of age and live in the same household as someone with COVID-19, you are not required by law to self-isolate. You are also not required by law to self-isolate if you have participated or are currently participating in an approved COVID-19 vaccine trial or if you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. As of December 27, there will be a legal requirement for places that serve alcohol to work only with table service. There will also be a physical distance of at least 1 meter between groups. A maximum of 3 households can meet in groups in indoor restaurants and leisure facilities. If you were previously on the shielding list, you can follow the same rules as the others. If someone isolates themselves, keep a window in their room slightly open and keep the door closed to reduce the spread of contaminated air to other parts of the house. If the person isolating must use a common space in the home, such as: The kitchen or other living spaces while others are present, keep these rooms well ventilated, for example, by opening the windows while the person isolating is in the common area, and for a short time after leaving. You should use towels separate from other household members, both to dry after bathing or showering, and to dry your hands. Keep your room well ventilated by opening a window to the outside.
If other household members develop symptoms during this time, you do not need to self-isolate for more than 10 days. DefenseGermes is a website that can help you find ways to protect yourself and others in your household from COVID-19. It offers scientific advice on reducing the risk of COVID-19 and other viruses in your home. Follow separate instructions if you have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 but does not currently live in the same household as them. Everyone should also take the following steps to reduce the spread of infection in their household. Please also refer to the attached illustrated guide to reducing household transmission. Use a face covering or surgical mask when spending time in common areas of your home to minimize the risk of spreading to others. Used correctly, they can help protect others by reducing the transmission of COVID-19, but they do not replace the need to limit your contact with other household members.
Currently, there is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted through breast milk. However, COVID-19 infection can be transmitted to a baby in the same way as anyone in close contact with you. Current evidence is that children with COVID-19 have much less severe symptoms than adults. If you or a family member is feeding formula or expressed milk, carefully sterilize the device before each use. You should not share bottles or breast pumps with anyone else. If you live with or have been in contact with someone with COVID-19, you do not need to self-isolate if any of the following conditions are true: Follow these tips until the household member who contracted COVID-19 reaches the end of their self-isolation period. If you don`t follow the rules of self-isolation, you could be fined.