MSP Gail Ross offers advice to Highland residents on what to expect if they are called by an NHS contact tracer during coronavirus pandemic
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Scotland’s approach to implementing the ‘test, trace, isolate, support’ strategy, Test and Protect, is now live across the country.
Test and Protect aims to help Scotland gradually change the restrictions that help to suppress Covid-19 so society can adapt to a new normal.
If anyone experiences any one of the symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – they must immediately self-isolate for a minimum of seven days.
As soon as anyone starts showing symptoms they should either visit here or call 0800 028 2816 to arrange to get tested for the coronavirus.
When contacting individuals who have tested positive, contact tracers will ask people to identify others who they have been in close contact with and places they have visited 48 hours prior to the onset of symptoms up until the time they had self-isolated. This information will then be input into contact tracing software and used to identify and contact those identified.
The positive individual will not be named by the contact tracer, in line with patient confidentiality, unless they agree to have their details disclosed to help the contact tracing process.
Importantly, contact tracers will not ask anyone for information about bank accounts or medical records, and they will not try to sell you anything.
The data gathered will be stored securely by NHS Scotland and safely destroyed as soon as possible after the pandemic concludes.
Gail Ross, SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said: “I understand that people may be worried about the risks of potential phone scams, but the NHS already has a number of protections in place to stop potential fraudsters and ensure all information is kept confidential.
“Contact tracers will introduce themselves, state the reason for their call, and will always identify who they are calling by name. They will not ask for information about bank accounts or medical records, and they will not try to sell you anything.
“The tracers will be supported by software which builds on a tried and trusted platform, allowing teams to identify outbreaks and reduce transmission for high risk groups here in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
“Trace and Protect is one way we will tackle this pandemic, but physical distancing and good hand hygiene continues to play a huge role as minimise the spread of infection.”
