Caring and Coronavirus

As a carer you may be concerned about how Coronavirus (COVID-19) will impact your health, the health of the person you care for and/or your caring role. We have provided some useful information and guidance below to help you understand the current situation and the support that is available to help you in your caring role.

Public information and guidance around Coronavirus (COVID-19) is changing on a regular basis. We will try to keep all of the information we publish here as accurate and up to date as possible.

All COVID-19 rules and restrictions have been lifted in Scotland, but the virus has not gone away.

Use 'Covid sense' to help protect yourself and others:

get the vaccine or the vaccine booster when it is offered to you– this is the best way to protect yourself
where appropriate, wear a face covering in indoor public spaces and on public transport
when meeting indoors open windows to let fresh air in
wash your hands regularly, and cover your nose and mouth if coughing or sneezing
maintain good surface hygiene by cleaning regularly
meet outside where possible
if you can, try and keep some distance from those outside your own household – take a step back
continue or if possible, explore hybrid and flexible working practices where appropriate – organisations and workplaces should follow the safer workplaces and public settings guidance
take a PCR test and isolate if you have symptoms
take an LFD test before visiting someone in a hospital or care home

Care for yourself and others to help slow down the spread of the virus and reduce pressure on our health services.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): staying safe and protecting others

From 18 April 2022 thanks to the efforts of everyone in Scotland, and the success of the vaccination programme, we have now reached a stage where all the legal restrictions relating to COVID-19 protective measures at a national level in Scotland have been lifted.

However, COVID-19 has not gone away and it remains important that we continue to take sensible precautions to keep each other safe. The best thing everyone can do is to get your vaccination and boosters, and, where they are prescribed, the new anti- viral treatments help protect us all from serious illness.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (a fever, new continuous cough, or loss of sense of taste or smell)  it is important to isolate and book a PCR test – this advice has not changed. Follow the guidance on NHS Inform on self-isolating and booking a test. PCR testing will remain in place until 30 April 2022.

From 18 April 2022, the general public won't need to test when they do not have coronavirus symptoms. However, if you are an Unpaid Carer, you will continue to have access to free lateral flow tests. Further information is available in our Community Testing section.

For further information on staying safe and protecting others, please view guidance from The Scottish Government.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Distance Aware Scheme

The Distance Aware scheme is designed to help those worried about mixing with others as we adapt to living with COVID-19. Find out how to get a Distance Aware badge or lanyard to show others you need more space.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Distance Aware Scheme

COVID-19 Community Testing in Lanarkshire

COVID-19 can be spread by people who don’t have symptoms or the symptoms are so mild people may not recognise that they have the infection.

Click here for further information on Community Testing in Lanarkshire

COVID-19 Community Testing in Lanarkshire

Flu & Coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccination

Spring booster dose for high risk groups

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advise a spring dose of the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine for:

adults aged 75 years and over (or will turn 75 by 30 June 2022)
residents in care homes for older adults
individuals aged 12 years and over who have a weakened immune system

The spring booster dose will usually be offered around 6 months since your last dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Some people may be invited sooner than this (at least 3 months since their last dose) to help protect them against any increase in coronavirus infections.

Click below for further information

Flu & Coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccination

COVID-19 Vaccine information for the BAME Community

Lanarkshire Carers are delighted to have worked in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire, community leaders and members of the local BAME community to support a better understanding of the COVID-19 vaccination and to address concerns about the misinformation targeted at BAME communities via social media.

For further information, please click below.

COVID-19 Vaccine information for the BAME Community

NHS Scotland Test and Protect App

The Protect Scotland app from NHS Scotland’s Test and Protect is a free, mobile phone app designed to help us protect each other and reduce the spread of coronavirus.

Click below for further information

NHS Scotland Test and Protect App

General Guidance for Carers

Follow Core Public Health Advice

A lot of misinformation is circulating about coronavirus. Make sure you follow advice from reputable sources. We suggest checking the following websites regularly as advice and guidance is changing on a regular basis:

Information on COVID-19 is also available in different languages and formats via NHS Inform:

NHS Inform - Other languages and formats

For further information on general guidance for carers, please click below.

General Guidance for Carers

Other Useful Resources

The Scottish Government has also issued specific advice for carers:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - advice for unpaid carers: December 2021

UK Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family

UK guidance for unpaid carers

NHS Lanarkshire Psychological Services has produced very useful guidance around managing anxiety:

Managing anxiety in the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic (pdf)

Some other helpful information for carers in Lanarkshire can be found below:

We are here to support you with your caring role and will keep you up to date with any relevant information or changes as things progress. Please make sure your contact details are up to date with us in case we need to contact you. If your details have changed recently, please contact us on 01698 428090 / 01236 755550 and we will update our records.

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Last Updated: Friday, 25 March, 2022