Health Matters by Dr Tim Allison: Testing times are key to getting back to more normal life in the Highlands
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Encouraging signs are continung to emerge which point to a return to more normal life for all of us.
There is greater protection against Covid through vaccination and infection rates are much lower now than they were in January.
However, we have also seen people apparently forgetting about Covid and ignoring the current restrictions, such as those football fans gathering to celebrate Rangers’ win in the Scottish Premiership title race in Glasgow and elsewhere.
As we start to see small relaxations in the restrictions, we are no doubt keen to put the whole Covid business behind us and return to business as usual as quickly as we possibly can.
But Covid is a persistent virus and one that is difficult to remove from the community.
We are continuing to see Covid transmission around Inverness and the newer variant of the virus spreads easily.
When we do start getting back to our more usual activities and lifestyles, we must remember nevertheless to stick with the Covid precautions otherwise the virus will take advantage of us and come back with a vengeance.
One crucial part of keeping Covid under control is through testing for the virus.
Testing for Covid is a vital part of the strategy to control the pandemic.
It was developed at an early stage and is still important. It will become even more important as we come out of lockdown and start to mix more.
If we find Covid after lockdown, we will need to act quickly to control it, using testing and isolation for those testing positive for the virus.
There are different types of test and different ways we can get tested, so what do we need to know about Covid testing?
If we develop symptoms of Covid, such as a persistent cough, raised temperature or change in taste or smell, then we should self-isolate and get a test.
Tests can be booked online or by phone through NHS Inform.
The test provided will be a PCR test. This test can pick up small traces of the Covid virus and is an excellent predictor of whether we are infected, but the test needs to be sent to a laboratory and so results cannot be made available immediately.
It will be important for many months to come for everyone who displays symptoms of Covid to get a test.
The other main type of testing in use now is the lateral flow test, also known as a lateral flow device (LFT or LFD).
It is currently being used for NHS staff, in care homes and more widely across the community. It gives a quick result without the need for a machine or laboratory, but is less accurate than the PCR test.
Most importantly, a negative LFT result does not mean you are free from Covid.
If you get a positive LFT then you need to isolate and get a PCR test, but if you get a negative test you should carry on taking regular precautions as if you have not had a test.
If we keep up with precautions and get tested when we should, we have a much better chance of returning to some kind of normal existence.
