Testing for officers and staff following coronavirus-related assaults
Police Scotland has welcomed the decision that police officers and staff concerned about their health after being subjected to coronavirus-related assaults are now eligible for tests even if they are showing no symptoms.
Previously, testing in such circumstances was available only to NHS and care workers. The Scottish government announced the change in policy yesterday (May 12).
Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Taylor said: “Police officers and staff are playing a vital role in the work to protect the NHS and save lives, but assault is not simply part of that job. Therefore, it’s important that we do everything we can to protect our people and I’m delighted that the Scottish government has agreed to our request that officers and staff can have access to tests in these circumstances.”
The Scottish Police Federation said it was “hugely grateful” to the Scottish government for listening to police officer concerns and “opening up asymptomatic testing” to officers suffering Covid-19 exposures.
Earlier this week, Police Scotland revealed that more than 100 coronavirus-related attacks on officers and staff had now been recorded.
