Coronavirus in Scotland

The daily COVID-19 data is now available on Public Health Scotland's COVID-19 Daily Dashboard.

Testing

Free COVID-19 testing has now ended for most people in Scotland with and without symptoms.

Testing is only available for specific groups to protect high risk settings, support clinical care and for surveillance.

You can order tests if you are:

• visiting a hospital or care home
• an unpaid carer
• eligible for covid treatments
• applying for the self-isolation support grant

If you are a health and care worker you will continue to access lateral flow testing through your workplace.

Staying at home (previously self-isolating)

If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection or have a fever and don’t feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, stay at home and avoid contact with others. This replaces the previous self-isolation guidance.

Travelling to Scotland

No COVID-19 travel rules apply for entering Scotland. Travel rules for people arriving from abroad ended in March 2022. 

If you’re visiting Scotland from another country, you should check your own government’s advice about travelling home after visiting Scotland.

Travelling abroad

Other countries may still have travel rules in place. If you live in Scotland, you should check foreign travel advice on GOV.UK for every country you plan to visit.

Proof of vaccination (COVID status)

If you need to prove which vaccinations you’ve had when you arrive in another country, you can normally use your NHS Scotland COVID Status app to do this.

Find out how to access or update your covid status at the NHS Inform website.

All covid rules and restrictions have been lifted in Scotland but there are still things you can do to protect yourself and others.

Read more: staying safe and protecting others.

Distance Aware scheme

A Distance Aware badge or lanyard shows that someone needs more space or care. Find out how to get a Distance Aware badge or lanyard.

The Highest Risk List – formerly known as the Shielding List - will be formally ended on 31 May, as a result of the success of the vaccination programme and the introduction of new treatments for COVID-19. 

Read guidance for people on the COVID-19 Highest Risk List here.

Find out about the vaccine, including the booster vaccinations, on the NHS Inform vaccine site.

Children aged 5 to 11

Children aged five to 11 are being invited to COVID-19 vaccination appointments in community clinics.

Find out more about vaccination for children at the NHS Inform website.

People managing workplaces and running organisations can take steps to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 to create a safer environment for all. 

Read safer workplaces and organisations guidance.

Guidance is available to help reduce the risk in:

• schools
• early learning and childcare 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.

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