Coronavirus in Scotland
Protect yourself and others:
- stay at home
- only go outside for essential food, health and work reasons
- stay 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people
- wash your hands regularly
- wash your hands as soon as you get home
Coronavirus symptoms
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are a new continuous cough and/or a fever/high temperature (37.8C or greater).
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
Health advice
Health advice can be found on: NHS Inform.
A free helpline can give advice if you do not have symptoms, but are looking for general advice: 0800 028 2816.
The latest information and advice for professionals and organisations is on the Health Protection Scotland website.
Overseas visitors to Scotland, regardless of their residency status, are exempt from NHS charges for both the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Scottish information updates: 30 April 2020
A total of 54,639 people in Scotland have been tested. Of these:
- 43,286 were confirmed negative
- 11,353 were positive
- 1,475 patients who tested positive have died
These figures will be an underestimate. Not everyone with COVID-19 will display symptoms and not all those with symptoms will be tested.
The Department of Health publishes UK figures on behalf of all UK Chief Medical Officers. Test results from Scotland are included in the overall UK figure.
Management information reported by NHS Boards shows:
- 109 patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 were in intensive care last night, with 101 of those having tested positive
- there were 1,748 people in Scottish hospitals with either confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (including those in intensive care)
View the full daily data for Scotland, which includes NHS Board data on the above, and other management information such as number of 111 calls, care homes with outbreaks, and NHS absences.
The latest numbers will publish at 2pm each day. Find out about the process for daily reporting of COVID-19 deaths.
The latest weekly report on COVID-19 related deaths (including those where COVID-19 is suspected) is available from National Records of Scotland (NRS).
This report provides report provides a breakdown of deaths by age, sex, setting (hospital, care home or home) and area (NHS Board area and Local Authority). It is updated every Wednesday.
Deaths of health and social care workers related to COVID-19
As at 28 April, the Scottish Government has been notified by Health Boards or the Care Inspectorate of 6 deaths of healthcare workers and 5 deaths of social care workers, related to COVID-19. We are not able to confirm how many of these staff contracted COVID-19 through their work. We will update this information every Wednesday.
Business, third sector or voluntary organisations – offering support
Businesses, third sector or voluntary organisations can offer to help with the response to coronavirus by completing an online form.
If your offer is for NHS Scotland, use the NHS Scotland Supply Offers Portal.
You can also find information on the kinds of things the government needs help with.
If you’re a member of the public who also wants to share an idea they have, email cpe@gov.scot.
Help your community and volunteering advice
Information on how to help your community is on the Ready Scotland website.
Business advice
If you run a business you can get advice by calling the helpline: 0300 303 0660. It is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm. Select option 1 to speak to the COVID-19 team.
The Find Business Support website gives the latest information and advice.
Benefits and employment rights
Advice about benefits and employment rights is on Citizens Advice Scotland.
Advice for parents
Advice for parents is on the ParentClub website.
Travel, visa and passport advice
You must stay at home, do not travel unless for food, health and essential work.
Guidance for British people travelling abroad: Travel advice: coronavirus (COVID-19).
Travel advice and country specific information can be found at: FitForTravel.
Guidance for visa holders and applicants in Scotland, and British nationals overseas who need to apply for a passport: Visa and passport advice (COVID-19)
Our approach
Our approach is guided by the Chief Medical Officer, and we continue to monitor the situation closely and to work with the WHO and international community.
We are working with the Welsh Government, Northern Ireland Executive, and the UK Government to respond to the ongoing outbreak.