New guidance on Covid-19 testing has been issued by the Scottish Government for family and friends visiting a loved one in care homes.
NHS Lanarkshire is now calling on all visitors to follow the guidance to help keep residents, staff and other visitors safe.
The Scottish Government now recommends that visitors undertake lateral flow device (LFD) testing, also known as rapid tests, before visiting a care home. This can be done at home or at the care home.
Visitors are advised to contact the care home to confirm where they should carry out their test. If the care home requests that visitors undertake the test at the care home at the start of the visit, timings and arrangements should be confirmed with the care home.
The care home may be happy for visitors to do a test in their own home on the day of a visit. If testing at home, visitors will need access to a smartphone or tablet to register their result online. The care home may ask for proof of a negative test.
There is no change to the twice-weekly testing arrangements already in place for visiting healthcare professionals.
Trudi Marshall, Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire, said: “Regular testing using LFDs is important as it plays an important role in helping us to find positive cases in people who have no symptoms, but who are still infectious.
“Testing at home or at the care home should be done on the day of the visit. Regular visitors to a care home may test twice weekly rather than each time. The care home will advise on this.
“If you are testing at home, you will receive confirmation of the result by text message and email to show proof of your result. The care home may ask to see this proof of a negative test result before visiting.
“Please remember that each care home has different circumstances to take into account. It is important that you follow their guidelines to ensure the safety of loved ones, other residents, staff and visitors while we continue to fight this global pandemic.”
