Coronavirus (Covid-19) Information and Advice

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You can also access translated coronavirus resources from the following links:

• Translated public information posters (downloads as a .zip file)
• British Sign Language (BSL) information videos
• Easy Read coronavirus resources

Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, most of our in-person support and testing services across Scotland are currently suspended.

That means our Glasgow, Inverness and Edinburgh offices are closed until further notice.

However, our residential support centre, Waverley Care Milestone, remains open, though with a reduced service.

Throughout the pandemic, we are continuing to provide support to people who need it by phone, text, and email, and through our live chat service.

Full information on the impact of Covid-19 on our services, and details of how to contact us, is available here.

Covid-19 is the illness caused by a new strain of a virus known as a coronavirus.

Typical symptoms of Covid-19 include:

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• loss of, or a change in, sense of smell or taste

Generally, Covid-19 can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and people with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

You can keep up to date on latest advice about Covid-19 in Scotland from the NHS Inform website.

The Covid-19 vaccination programme is currently underway.

The vaccine programme is being rolled out in stages, and will be offered to individuals at higher risk first.

The vaccine is your best protection against Covid-19, so it is strongly recommended that you get the vaccine when offered it.

Full information about the vaccines, and vaccination programme are available here.

Typical symptoms of Covid-19 include a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or loss of, or a change in, sense of smell or taste

If you've developed any of these symproms, however, mild, the advice is to stay at home for 10 days from the start of your symptoms and arrange to be tested.

You should phone 111 if:

• your symptoms worsen during home isolation (especially if you are in a high risk group)
• breathlessness develops or worsens (especially if you are in a high risk group)
• your symptoms have not improved after 10 days

High risk groups include people who:

• are 70 years old or over
• have underlying poor health
• have heart or lung problems
• have a weakened immune system, including cancer
• have diabetes

If you have a medical emergency, phone 999 and tell them you have Covid-19 symptoms.

Check out the NHS Inform website which is regularly updated for further information.

You can also use NHS Inform's symptom checker here.

You can reduce your risk of catching and spreading respiratory infections like Covid-19 by practising good respiratory hygiene. That means:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with your hands
• Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and water or alcohol hand sanitiser. You should do this after coughing or sneezing, after going to the toilet, and before eating or drinking
• Avoid direct contact with people that have a respiratory illness where possible, and avoid using their personal items like mobile phones or pens
• Cover your nose and mouth with disposable tissues when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of them in the nearest bin after use
• Follow the guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection and arranging to be tested if someone in your household has symptoms
• Make sure everyone in your household follows the Scottish Government’s coronavirus advice as much as possible
• Make sure your household follows the physical distancing advice, especially anyone in a vulnerable group

It’s very important that you stay at home if you have Covid-19 symptoms, or you’ve had a positive test result.

You should also stay at home if someone you live with or someone in your extended household has symptoms, or if you’ve been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive.

Household isolation will help to control the spread of the virus to friends, the wider community and the most vulnerable.

The NHS Inform website includes full guidance for households about self-isolating here, including an interactive guide to tell you when and how long to self-isolate.. 

Social distancing refers to steps that everyone can take to help reduce the spread of Covid-19 by cutting down on social interactions.

People at increased risk of coronavirus are particularly advised to follow social distancing.

Under the current lockdown regulations the following social distancing guidelines are in place.

Do:

• stay at home except for essential purposes
• stay 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people outside your household or extended household at all times
• only meet up outdoors with one other household (no more than 4 people in total at a time) – children under 12 don’t count towards the 4 person limit
• limit the total number of other households you meet in a day
• only go into someone else’s home to access the garden or use the toilet
• travel by foot, bike or car if you can
• change your travel times to avoid rush hour
• wash your hands with soap and water (or hand sanitiser) when you return home after going out
• work from home if you can – your employer should support you to do this
• use phone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services

Don't:

• do not meet indoors with people from other households unless you have formed an extended household or provide care and support – for example caring for an elderly family member or delivering shopping
• do not meet anyone with coronavirus symptoms (new continuous cough, fever or loss of, or change in, sense of smell or taste (anosmia))
• do not have large public gatherings with friends and family – keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media

For full guidance, visit NHS Inform.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, clinicians advised some people to shield to protect themselves from the virus.

This is because their specific health condition or specific treatments made them more vulnerable to Covid-19.

If you have previously been advised to shield, you should continue to follow any specific advice that your clinician provides.

Full guidance for people who have been told to shield is available from the NHS Inform website here.

Helpline

A helpline (0800 111 4000) has been set up for those at increased risk who don’t have a support network, such as family or existing community support.

This helpline will continue to be available even though shielding is now paused.

Callers will be connected to their local authority who will help them access the services they need, such as:

• essential food and medication
• links to local social work services for vulnerable children or adults
• emotional support
• contact with local volunteer groups

The helpline is open from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

For more information about shielding, visit the NHS Inform website.

The most up-to-date and comprehensive advice and information about coronavirus in Scotland is available from the NHS Inform website here.

You may also find the following information useful:

• Stay up to date on latest testing and coronavirus infection rates in Scotland on the Scottish Government’s website here.
• Stay up to date with the latest response from the UK Government to coronavirus on their website here.

Covid-19, and the restrictions it has placed on our lives, has caused major disruption and you may be experiencing worry or concern related to this.

You can find lots of helpful advice on how to take care of your mental health and wellbeing from:

• SAMH (Scottish Association of Mental Health)
• Mind (the mental health charity)

If you’re living with HIV, you should follow the advice given to the general population.

If you are on treatment, with an undetectable viral load and a good CD4 count, then you should be at no greater risk.

If you’re living with HIV and do not have an undetectable viral load or have a low CD4 count,it is even more important that you follow the guidance.

Most Covid-19 vaccines will be arranged via primary care. For people not registered with a GP, or who have not disclosed their HIV status, HIV clinics in Scotland can refer directly to vaccine hubs.

It may take a while for individual clinics to get the necessary arrangements in place, but patients should contact their clinic for more information if they are unable to access the vaccine through their GP. 

The British HIV Association (BHIVA) is posting regular updates on Covid-19, based on the most up-to-date science. You can read them here. 

During this time, PrEP will continue as a top priority for the NHS in Scotland to help reduce the transmission of HIV.

Many clinics will speed up their PrEP service to reduce risks for patients. This might include some virtual services and shorter times at the clinic.

The likelihood is that people using PrEP will be able to get tested for HIV and syphilis only. Testing for other STIs might be cut back if you don’t have symptoms.

PrEP is still very safe and effective, even with reduced testing.

Find out more about PrEP and coronavirus here.

If you’re living with hepatitis C, or have previously been successfully treated, you should ensure that you follow the advice given to the general population.

If you're living with hepatitis C, or have previously been successfully treated, and also have other conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, you may be at increased risk of serious illness if you get Covid-19. 

This is also the case if you have developed advanced liver diseases (including cirrhosis) and deteriorating health as a result of hepatitis C. 

If you are living with hepatitis C and currently undergoing treatment, you should not change or stop treatment unless you have been advised to do so by your doctor.  

If you are looking for support, you can find out about how to get in touch with us during the coronavirus situation here.

If you’re taking drugs that aren’t prescribed, there are a few things you need to be aware of:

• Viruses (such as the common cold, flu and hep C) and bacteria (such as E. coli and Staph), can be passed on when you take drugs with unclean or shared equipment. To help prevent the spread, you should practice good hygiene and never share your equipment. 
• Always rest well before and after taking drugs, stay hydrated and eat nutritious meals.  This helps give your immune system the best possible chance against coronavirus should you become infected. 
• Taking some drugs by smoking can harm your respiratory system, and may lead to an increase in your risk of coronavirus. Cutting down on or avoiding tobacco can also help keep your lungs prepared to fight off any illness. Your local Stop Smoking Service can offer resources and advice if you want to stop or cut down.

Crew have lots of helpful advice about coronavirus for people who are taking drugs. Read more on their website here.

Covid-19 is spread through virus particles in saliva, mucus or the breath of those who have it.

The virus has been found in semen and faeces, but it doesn’t appear that sex is a common way for Covid-19 to spread. 

However similar to other flu-like viruses, sexual contact will likely lead to the transmission of this virus.  This is because you are in close physical contact with someone who may be carrying the virus (even if they don't have symptoms) and being intimate might expose you to it. 

• If you are living with someone who might have been infected and is told to self isolate, you should follow the guidance given to the general population through NHS Inform.
• If you have sex with someone and you are worried about coronavirus, you should follow general coronavirus advice and guidelines on hygiene and preventing its transmission.
• If you are meeting people for sex, whether it's online, group situations, public sex environments or other venues, don’t be afraid to ask if they have any symptoms.
• If you meet other people for sex, continue to use precautions to reduce your risk of sexually transmitted infections.

As Covid-19 develops, NHS sexual health services are regularly updating the services that they are able to offer.

The best way to know what's happening locally is to visit your sexual health service's website - and links are provided below:

• Lothian Sexual Health - 0131 536 1070​​​​​​​
• Greater Glasgow and Clyde Sexual Health Services (Sandyford Clinics) - 0141 211 8130 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Highland Sexual Health Services - 01463 888 300​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Lanarkshire Sexual Health Services - 0300 303 0251​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Ayrshire and Arran Sexual Health Services - 01294 323 226​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Borders Sexual Health Services - 01896 663700 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Dumfries and Galloway Sexual Health Services - 0345 702 3687.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Fife Sexual Health Services - 01592 647979​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Forth Valley Sexual Health Services - 01324 673554​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Grampian Sexual Health Services - 0345 337 9900​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Orkney Sexual Health Services - 01856 888917 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Shetland Sexual Health Services 
• Tayside Sexual Health Services -  01382 425542​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
• Western Isles Sexual Health Services - 01851 708305