COVID-19 Symptoms in 2026: What to Do in Scotland, and When to Get Help

COVID-19 has not gone away, but the rules around it have changed so much that many people are no longer sure what to do when they get a cough and a temperature. Do you need a test? How long should you stay at home? Can you go to lectures or work? When should you worry? At Forrest Pharmacy we answer these questions most days in winter, and the short version is that for most people COVID-19 is now handled like any other respiratory infection.

This page sets out the current official advice in Scotland. It covers the symptoms, what to do if you have them, who still needs to test, how antiviral treatment works for people at higher risk, and the warning signs that mean you should call your GP or 999. For the wider picture, see our guide to the COVID-19 vaccine in Edinburgh.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19 now?

COVID-19 symptoms overlap heavily with colds and flu. The common symptoms are:

• a new, continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose, and sneezing
• a headache and aching muscles
• shortness of breath or wheezing
• tiredness and feeling generally unwell

Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and feeling or being sick. Some people notice a change in their sense of smell or taste, which is less typical of colds and flu. You cannot reliably tell COVID-19 from flu or a cold by symptoms alone, and for most people you do not need to: the advice is much the same.

What to do if you have symptoms

The current advice for adults with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, is to:

• Stay at home until you no longer have a fever, if you had one, and no longer need medicine such as paracetamol to bring your temperature down.
• Stay away from people at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell, where you can. That includes older people and anyone with a weakened immune system.
• Do not visit hospitals or care homes while you are unwell.

There is no fixed number of days. Once your temperature has settled and you feel well enough, you can go back to work, lectures and normal life. A lingering cough on its own is not a reason to stay away. Most respiratory infections clear up within three weeks.

Children and young people

Children with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, a sore throat or a slight cough can usually carry on going to school or nursery. If they have a temperature or test positive, they should stay at home until the temperature has gone. 48 hours is a rough guide, because children tend to be infectious for a shorter time than adults.

Do you need a COVID-19 test?

Most people no longer need to take a COVID-19 test. Knowing whether a cough and a temperature are COVID-19, flu or something else does not usually change what you should do.

The exception is people at higher risk who may be eligible for treatment, mainly those with a weakened immune system. If that is you, keep a pack of lateral flow tests at home so you can test as soon as symptoms start. In Scotland, people eligible for treatment can order tests online or by calling 0800 008 6587. If the first test is negative but you still have symptoms, test again on each of the next two days.

Some people choose to buy a test before visiting someone vulnerable. Our page on visiting older relatives this winter covers that.

Antiviral treatment for people at higher risk

Antiviral medicines can lower the chance of serious illness in people at higher risk, but only if they are started quickly. In Scotland, you may be assessed for treatment if all of these apply:

• you are aged 12 or over
• you are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19
• you have tested positive
• your symptoms started within the last five days and are not getting better

If you test positive and think you are eligible, contact your local health board using the number on the official treatments page. If you are away from home in Scotland, contact your own health board, which can direct you to the nearest service. Have a list of all your medicines ready, including anything bought over the counter and any herbal products, because some antivirals interact with other medicines.

If you are a student on immune-suppressing treatment, sort this out before you need it: keep tests at home and save the number. Our page on the COVID-19 vaccine for students explains why this group is often missed.

Looking after yourself at home

• Rest, and drink enough fluids to keep your urine pale.
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen can ease a temperature, aches and a sore throat. Follow the directions on the pack, and ask a pharmacist first if you have asthma, a stomach problem or take other medicines.
• Honey, warm drinks and lozenges can soothe a sore throat and cough.
• Open a window and avoid sharing cups, towels and cutlery with the people you live with.
• Antibiotics will not help. COVID-19 is a virus.

A pharmacist can advise on remedies that are safe with your other medicines, and NHS Pharmacy First Scotland covers advice and some treatment for common conditions. Our page on Pharmacy First at Forrest Pharmacy explains what is included.

When to contact your GP

Contact your GP practice if you:

• have had a high temperature for more than three days
• have had a cough for more than three weeks
• have breathlessness that is not improving
• have a temperature below 36 degrees
• have symptoms that are not getting better, or you are worried about them
• have a long-term condition or a weakened immune system and feel unwell

Outside GP hours, call NHS 24 on 111.

When to call 999

Phone 999 or go to A&E if you or someone you are with has:

• severe or sudden chest pain that is not going away
• severe difficulty breathing
• coughing up blood
• collapsed, fainted, or had a seizure for the first time
• unusual drowsiness or difficulty waking
• pale, blue or grey lips or skin, or blotchy, mottled skin
• a rash that does not fade when a glass is pressed against it

Some of these can also be signs of sepsis or meningitis, which can look like flu early on. Students are at higher risk of meningitis. Our page on the MenB vaccine for students explains the signs.

COVID-19, flu or a cold?

If you cannot tell which you have, you are not alone. Flu tends to arrive suddenly with a high temperature and exhaustion. A cold builds gradually and is milder. COVID-19 can look like either. Our page on freshers' flu versus real flu explains the difference, and it applies at any age. Whatever the cause, the advice above on staying at home and when to get help is the same.

Vaccination after you have had COVID-19

Having COVID-19 does not mean you should skip a vaccine you are eligible for. Once you have recovered, there is no need to wait longer before being vaccinated, although the usual gap of at least three months since your last dose still applies. A flu jab is unaffected, because flu is a different virus.

If you are eligible for a free vaccine, you will be invited through your GP practice. If you are not, and want to talk it through, a pharmacist can help. Once you feel better, you can book a COVID-19 vaccination or a flu jab at Forrest Pharmacy, 45 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QP, using the calendar below, or call 0131 225 7770. Please do not book while you still have a temperature.

Common questions about COVID-19 symptoms

How long am I infectious with COVID-19?

You are most infectious in the first few days, when symptoms are at their worst. Staying at home until your temperature has gone covers the riskiest period for most adults.

Do I have to self-isolate in Scotland?

There is no legal requirement and no fixed isolation period. The advice is to stay at home while you have a temperature or feel unwell, and to avoid people at higher risk.

Can I go to work or lectures with a cough?

If you no longer have a temperature and feel well enough, yes. Cover coughs and sneezes and wash your hands.

Should I test before visiting someone vulnerable?

If you have symptoms, it can help you decide, but the safest thing is to put the visit off until you are better.

Who can get antiviral treatment?

People aged 12 and over at higher risk of serious illness, mainly those with a weakened immune system, who test positive within five days of symptoms starting.

Can a pharmacist help?

Yes, with advice on symptoms and remedies, and on whether you need to see a GP. We stock COVID-19 later flow tests in the pharmacy.

Related reading

• COVID-19 Vaccine in Edinburgh for Students, Working Adults and Families
• Visiting Older Relatives This Winter: COVID-19 Vaccines and Protecting Family
• COVID-19 Vaccine for Students in Edinburgh: Do You Need One?
• COVID-19 Vaccines for International Students in Edinburgh
• Freshers' Flu or Real Flu? How to Tell, and When to Get Help

Reviewed by Ather Diab, Superintendent Pharmacist and Independent Prescriber (GPhC 2233707). Forrest Pharmacy, 45 Forrest Road, Edinburgh EH1 2QP. Last reviewed: 29 October 2026.

This page is general information and does not replace an individual assessment by a pharmacist, GP or other health professional. If you are worried about your symptoms, contact your GP or call 111. In an emergency, call 999.

Sources: NHS inform pages on COVID-19 symptoms, self-care and treatments (October 2026); UKHSA Green Book, chapter 14a (COVID-19); Pharmacy First Scotland.