Only book a Covid-19 test if you suffer symptoms or Test and Protect advise it

Lanarkshire residents are being asked only to book Covid-19 tests if they are displaying symptoms or have been instructed to do so by Test and Protect officials.

NHS Lanarkshire has issued the “urgent reminder” after noting a “sharp rise in testing requests”.

Public health officials are also stressing that anyone advised to self-isolate for a fortnight will need to do so for the whole duration, even if they have been tested for coronavirus. Gabe Docherty, the board’s director of public health, explained: “Covid-19 tests should only be booked if you are symptomatic or if you have been directly instructed to do so by Test and Protect as part of the management of an outbreak in the area. Tests should be booked in advance.

“We are asking individuals to self-isolate and book a test if they experience any Covid symptoms, which are a new and continuous cough, fever or loss of taste or smell.

“You should get tested if these symptoms are mild and you only need to have one of these symptoms to get tested.”

He added: “Family members are reminded that they need to self-isolate if someone in their household develops symptoms.

“However, they do not need to be tested unless they develop symptoms themselves. If you have been advised to self-isolate for 14 days, you must do this, even if you have been tested.”

Details and booking for Covid-19 testing are available on NHS Inform, or by calling 0800 028 2816 in the event of online access difficulties.

Health board officials said: “Please do not call NHS Lanarkshire, 111 or your GP to book a test, as they can’t organise tests or give out results.”