News

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 being brought into island communities by people who are unaware they are infectious, the Scottish Government is encouraging anyone planning to travel to a Scottish island from Monday April 26, to test before they travel.  

Rapid Flow Tests (LFT) can be ordered for delivery to your home anywhere in the UK and they should arrive within 24-48 hours. 

Those travelling are asked to test three days before you plan to travel and then again on the day of departure. If you are positive, this would allow you to self-isolate and book a PCR test.  

Pre-departure testing is intended for anyone travelling from the mainland, to capture travel from higher prevalence to lower prevalence areas. However with the expansion in the availability of LFTs to everyone in Scotland from Monday, anyone travelling to or from the islands is encouraged to test themselves, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  

Please note that if your LFT result is negative, this is not a guarantee that you do not have COVID-19. You must continue to follow national and local restrictions, including FACTS guidance. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, you must self-isolate and book a PCR test through your Health Board/Trust. 

NHS Western Isles and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar would strongly encourage you to participate in this scheme in order to reduce the risk that you inadvertently carry coronavirus into one of our island communities. 

To order tests before travel, visit:  https://test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/order-lateral-flow-kits

If you do not have internet access you can book a test delivery by calling 0300 303 2713 (charged at your standard network rate).