Most Scots back coronavirus testing and tracing

The survey was carried out just before Test and Protect was rolled out by NHS Scotland.

This new system requires people to isolate with their household as soon as they have symptoms and arrange immediate testing through the NHS Inform website.

Anyone who tests positive will be asked to provide details of everyone they have recently been in close contact with and those people will be asked to spend two weeks in isolation.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “Test and Protect is an essential step in our response to Covid-19. We are taking this step now because it’s the appropriate thing to do for this stage of the virus.

“As with lockdown, we need everyone to take this next step very seriously. They have done this so far, and I am very confident they will step up to show the same spirit of solidarity and care for each other as before.

“It is a collective national endeavour. People will need the help of family, friends, colleagues and employers. But support from us and our local authority partners will be available for anyone who needs extra help to self-isolate.

“If we all agree that some of us will have to stay home at times – when we have symptoms, test positive, or have been in contact with someone who tests positive – we can gradually move away from a situation where everyone has to stay home all of the time.”