Mass testing Scotland: where is it taking place, how do I book a test, and who is eligible?

Many people will be able to be tested in Scotland even if they don't have virus symptoms (PA Media)

People without any coronavirus symptoms are able to be tested in Scotland in areas where there is a high prevalence of the virus.

Cabinet Secretary for Health Jeane Freeman announced the mass testing scheme on 25 November.

The scheme is being trialled in five Covid hotspots with high infection rates, and it is hoped that testing asymptomatic people will trace and contain the virus more effectively.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new testing programme, including where tests are available and who is eligible for the scheme.

In what areas is mass testing taking place?

Residents in Clackmannanshire, Glasgow, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and Renfrewshire are being advised to book a test, even if they don’t have symptoms.

Testing in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, began on 26 November in the car park of the town hall, and will be in operation until Wednesday 2 December.

Residents in Dalmarnock and Pollokshields in Glasgow are also eligible for the programme, with units situated at Emirates Arena car park and across from the Tramway Theatre in Albert Drive.

The two sites, able to test up to 800 people a day, will run on weekdays from Monday 30 November to Wednesday 9 December, between 9am and 6pm.

People who reside in Stewarton, Dalmellington and Bellsbank in East Ayrshire are being advised to take a test.

A mobile testing unit will be set up at the Rose Reilly Sports Centre in Stewarton from 30 November until Friday 4 December, before being moved to Dalmellington Area Centre from Saturday 5 December until Monday 7 December.

The units will be operated by the Scottish Ambulance Service and aim to deliver results within 24 to 48 hours.

For those living in South Ayrshire, tests will be conducted at the Girvan Quay Zone from Monday 30 November until Friday 4 December, from 10am to 4pm.

From Saturday 5 December to Monday 7 December, residents will be able to book an appointment at the John Pollock Centre in Ayr.

Finally, a drop-in testing centre will be at Johnstone town hall for Renfrewshire residents, from Wednesday 2 December until Wednesday 9 December, which will have the capacity to test up to 12,000 people a week using lateral flow testing.

Johnstone has one of the highest case numbers per 100,000 in Scotland.

Local residents in all these places can book asymptomatic tests online.

Why mass testing?

Experts have said mass testing could stop coronavirus being transmitted from person to person because it identifies asymptomatic carriers of the virus.

Mass testing uses lateral flow devices, which deliver results within half an hour, allowing for more people to be tested.

However, they are not as accurate as the standard PCR tests which are carried out at NHS test centres.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “With the plans that I have set out, we will move to testing hundreds of thousands of people without symptoms, in order to actively find the virus, and, with the continuing cooperation of people across Scotland, to prevent and break down chains of transmission before Covid-19 can cause the harm of which we know it is capable.”

The government has said the mass testing programme could be expanded to more communities if it is successful, but Scotland’s clinical director Professor Jason Leitch has previously ruled out a city-wide mass testing scheme, such as that in Liverpool.

He said it would be better to target smaller areas where public communication would be easier.

Who else can be tested?

Jeane Freeman also announced plans for a significant expansion in routine testing for hospital patients and health and social care staff.

Everyone admitted to hospital emergency departments, acute assessment centres, maternity units and emergency mental health units will be able to get a test.

By mid-December, all medical and surgical elective admissions will be tested.

The government will also extend routine testing to all healthcare workers throughout December.

Twice-weekly testing will be introduced for everyone working in "patient-facing" roles in hospitals, the Scottish Ambulance Service, and Covid Assessment Centres.

All NHS workers who visit care homes will also begin to be tested in December.

What about testing in care homes?

Currently, care home residents in Scotland are only allowed one designated visitor.

The government plans to roll out lateral flow tests for designated care home visitors from the start of December, so they can take a test on the day of their visit to prevent spreading the virus to the care home resident.

The rapid tests will be offered to visitors to 12 care homes in four areas in Scotland from 7 December.

This will then be extended to other care homes in seven more local authority areas before 21 December, with the government aiming to complete the rollout in early February.

The homes which are not part of the initial later flow rollout will be offered PCR testing from 21 December, allowing families to visit people in care homes over Christmas.

Testing will then be extended to home carers who work in residential settings, sheltered housing and day care.

From mid-January, care home staff will be included in the testing programme.

That includes staff who are personal assistants to a person's home and covers residential settings, sheltered housing and day care.

The Scottish Government said it will roll out care home testing in the local authority areas with the highest rates of coronavirus, with the scheme extending to the whole sector by March.

Testing for students

Students in Scotland will be tested before travelling home for Christmas.

They will need to take two lateral flow tests, three days apart, and test negative before journeying back to family homes.

Some universities have already started to test students.

The Scottish Government plans to set out details for students returning to accommodation in January, using a staggered approach and more testing.

For schools, Education Secretary John Swinney said he was exploring extending testing for teachers, with pilot programmes set to begin in the new year.