Scottish Conservatives say it's time end Test and Protect Covid contact tracing
A policy document says the money should go into regular NHS services
Last updated 8th Feb 2022
The Scottish Tories want to wind up the Test and Protect system of contact tracing of positive coronavirus cases and spend the money on NHS services instead.
The "Back to Normality" policy document argues the performance of Test and Protect has declined in recent months, adding that the requirement for confirmatory PCR tests after a positive lateral flow test being dropped has made the scheme "less useful".
But on January 5, the day before the change was made, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged Scots who receive a positive lateral flow test to report their result online to begin the contact tracing process.
A more targeted approach
"We are urging the Government to adopt a new, more targeted approach to Covid," said Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane.
"We would place a higher emphasis on protecting vulnerable groups and trusting the public, instead of blanket restrictions such as mandating face masks in classrooms.
"One of the key proposals is replacing Test and Protect. It was incredibly useful in earlier stages of the pandemic but it has become increasingly redundant in recent months.
"We are nearing the point where Test and Protect is no longer an effective use of scarce NHS resources.
"As we start to move beyond the pandemic, our approach must adapt to fit the new situation."
An effective public health measure
The document will be released on the same day as the First Minister is due to provide an update to MSPs on the state of the pandemic.
A Scottish Government spokesman said that Test and Protect "continues to deliver an effective public health function despite record numbers of cases".
"As case numbers have risen, more people are being contact traced through digital channels - contact tracing resource continues to be targeted to best protect public health including ensuring our objectives of protecting the vulnerable and targeting high risk settings," the spokesman said, who added the Scottish Government would publish its strategy on how it will deal with the coming stages of the pandemic later this month.