Coronavirus in Scotland
To help protect yourself and others:
- get the vaccine or the vaccine booster
- take regular lateral flow tests - especially before mixing with other people or visiting a hospital or care home - get lateral flow tests
- follow the guidance on self-isolating and booking a test
- wear a face covering where required
- if mixing with others, try to gather in small groups only
- wash your hands regularly and cover your nose and mouth if coughing or sneezing
- open windows when meeting indoors
- work from home if you can
- use the apps: COVID status, Protect Scotland and Check-in Scotland
Information and support
Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Scotland
View:
- COVID-19 daily data for Scotland, including confirmed cases and deaths
- trends in daily COVID-19 data
- the number of cases in local areas on the Public Health Scotland coronavirus data dashbard
Getting tested and self-isolating
You should take regular lateral flow tests if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19. If you get a positive LFD result, changes to testing arrangements mean that you do not need to take a PCR test to confirm this. How to get lateral flow tests.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (a fever, new continuous cough, or loss of sense of taste or smell) it is important to isolate and book a PCR test – that advice has not changed.
Follow the guidance on NHS Inform on self-isolating and booking a test.
Travel and quarantine
If you are travelling to Scotland from abroad (international travel)
Find out the rules on travelling to Scotland, and check if a country is on the red list.
If you are travelling to Scotland from other parts of the UK
Travel is allowed between Scotland and England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
If you are travelling to a Scottish island
If you are travelling to a Scottish island you are advised to take a covid test before doing so.
Staying safe
Follow the rules and guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19
Face coverings
By law you should still wear a face covering in most indoor public places.
- read the guidance on face coverings including where you need to wear one, and who is exempt from doing so
Vaccine, including booster vaccinations, and vaccine certificates
Find out about the vaccine, including the booster and third dose vaccinations, on the NHS Inform website.
Covid certification scheme (covid passports)
If you are attending certain venues and events you will need to provide proof of:
- vaccination - or
- a negative test within the last 24 hours
- or you are exempt
You can download the NHS Scotland Covid Status app or get a paper record of your vaccine status from NHS Inform.
Check the vaccine certification scheme guidance for businesses and event organisers and for customers.
Businesses and workplaces (including hospitality guidance)
Guidance on operating safely during coronavirus
All businesses and workplaces should follow the safer businesses and workplaces guidance. This replaces most of the previous sector-specific guidance.
There is also guidance for specific sectors, including:
- hospitality businesses, including nightclubs
- organised activities for children and young people
- vaccine certification guidance for businesses and event organisers
- the events and culture sector
Funding for businesses affected by Omicron control measures
Get information about funding for business sectors affected by measures introduced to control the spread of the Omicron variant, including hospitality and taxi drivers.
You can also get information on support available to your business at the Find Business Support website.
Places of worship
Schools, universities, education and childcare
Guidance is available to help reduce the risk in:
- schools
- early learning and childcare settings
- school aged childcare settings
- childminder settings
- colleges and universities
Information for parents and carers is on the Parent Club website.
Information for students is on the Student Information Scotland website
Covid response: strategy and evidence
First Minister updates and statements
Strategic Framework
Our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Strategic Framework set out our strategic approach to suppress the virus to the lowest possible level while we strive to return to a more normal life.
The document has been updated since it was first published in October 2020:
- Strategic Framework update November 2021
- Strategic Framework update June 2021
- Strategic Framework update February 2021
Coronavirus advisory groups
Covid recovery
The Covid recovery strategy helps those who have been most affected by the pandemic, where the unequal impacts have worsened pre-existing inequalities. It will bolster the actions in the:
- NHS recovery plan - sets out commitments that will support recovery over the next five years, supported by the implementation of improvements and new models of care
- Education recovery plan – sets out action taken to address the impacts on children and young people, and the next steps to support learners
- Justice recovery plan - published March 2021 - leading to increased criminal court capacity, alongside mitigating measures already introduced during the pandemic. We will publish a new justice strategy reflecting the focus on recovery