COVID-19 Advice from Scottish Government

We now have more specific advice to share with you from the Scottish Government in relation to the risk categories and guidance/policies to be followed for each group.

Those at high risk:

Anyone who has a liver or other transplant due to the immunosuppressant medication they will be taking.  This group will be contacted next week with some advice, but are strongly encouraged to self-isolate.

Those at increased risk (but not in the high risk category):

• Anyone with hepatitis c who has not achieved a sustained viral response (SVR)
• Anyone who has achieved SVR following treatment, but has liver cirrhosis
• Anyone with hepatitis b
• Anyone who is HIV positive with a CD4 count less than 350/mm³
• Anyone with other risk factors, such as being aged over 70 years old or pregnant or who is offered the annual flu jab for any other reason

For those who are coinfected with hepatitis c and HIV, they should focus on the HIV advice above. 

Anyone in any of these categories does not need to completely self-isolate (although obviously can if they feel more comfortable doing so), but should carefully follow government and NHS Inform advice on social distancing to minimise their risk of infection.

Those not in any of these categories:

• Anyone who had HCV, but has achieved SVR and doesn’t have cirrhosis
• Anyone who has HIV, but with a CD4 count>350/mm³ and an undetectable viral load

People in these categories should follow the general public health advice on minimising risk, but are not at particular risk if they contract covid-19.  Advice from HCV experts is that previous treatment (such as interferon) is not known to impact on people’s risk from covid-19.