Government has no plans yet to test convicts prior to their release from jail

Patients leaving hospitals and prisoners awaiting release will not be tested for Covid-19 as standard, the Scottish Government has said.

Opposition parties have repeatedly called for routine testing in institutions like prisons and hospitals, due to the nature of the virus which spreads when people are within close proximity.

Since the Scottish outbreak in March at least six prisoners have died of the disease.

Patients leaving hospital who have not been treated in a designated coronavirus ward are not routinely tested for the virus either.

Yesterday, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the issue is “under review” and guided by clinical advice.

She said: “We will keep these things under review and we may change position which we will announce when we come to those decisions.

“Test and protect is for symptomatic but of course we will also continue to do routine testing for some groups.

“The principal focus of that in recent times has been on care homes but surveillance testing as well will be going over and above that.”

But shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said 10,000 tests in Scotland went unused daily and called for testing of convicts prior to release.

The north-east MSP said: “Prisons have had outbreaks of Covid and prisoners have died from this virus.

“There is no lack of testing availability – quite the opposite – there are over 10,000 unused tests each day. Each prisoner must be tested for Covid-19 prior to liberation to make sure they don’t pose a threat to public health.”

During the briefing, Ms Sturgeon urged people to think of each other in “solidarity” before the first weekend of relaxed social distancing guidelines.

Although the figures show a downward trend in cases recorded overall, there was a small rise in fatalities.

In total, 2,331 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for the virus, an increase of 15 from the previous day.

Ms Sturgeon said: “I’m not trying at all to cramp anyone’s fun this weekend, I really do want everyone to enjoy these changes because all of you have more than earned it but I’m asking you to please do so responsibly.

“If you are in doubt about whether your plans are within the rules or not, err on the side of caution.”

Meanwhile Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said police would “use their own discretion” should parks, beaches and other popular “hotspots” become too overcrowded this weekend.