The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has stated that there are currently no CE-marked testing kits available for home use. Once an approved test becomes available, this will be announced by the Government. Any testing kits advertised for sale online could be fake and could provide you with a false positive, risking your own health and that of others.
The MHRA has also investigated an increasing number of bogus medical products being sold through unauthorised websites claiming to treat or prevent COVID-19.
At this time, there are currently no medicines licensed specifically for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. Any products or cures advertised may be fake and potentially dangerous.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards has released guidance for businesses about placing hand cleaning and sanitising products on the market and about PPE regulations.
What to Do
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Scottish Citizens Stranded Abroad
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Advice Direct Scotland have updated the information on their COVID-19 consumer website with advice and recommendations for Scottish citizens who are stranded abroad.
The website also includes advice for passengers from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). The EU Commission has released interpretive guidelines on passenger rights.
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Temporary Financial Support
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On 14 April, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced new temporary measures to quickly support users of credit products such as loans, credit cards and overdrafts who are facing changing financial circumstances due to COVID-19. Find out more on their website.
It is important to note that these measures are designed to help in the short term and may result in increased costs in the longer term. If you can still afford to make repayments on loans, you should continue to do so. Before getting in touch with a provider, consider if your contact is essential.
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If you've been offered a personal loan via an online advert or unsolicited email, you should check whether the lender has been authorised by the FCA on their register.
The Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit's 24-hour confidential hotline will remain open 7 days a week throughout the lockdown period. If you are worried about a loan shark or feel that you have nowhere to turn in a financial crisis, call them for advice and support on 0800 074 0878.
Find links to organisations that can help through their webpage and remember that you are not alone.
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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has this week published a COVID-19 Home Fire Safety Checklist. The checklist includes steps to help people stay safe while working from home, including advice on using devices such as laptops, tablets and phones.
Be careful when buying electrical devices online: counterfeit products may not conform to EU or UK electrical safety regulations and research by Electrical Safety First shows that 1 in 10 Britons have experienced a fire or electric shock after using fake electrical products purchased online.
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- Texts supposedly from your phone provider saying that a payment has been declined and asking you to click on a link to update your payment details.
- Emails or texts supposedly from HMRC or your local council offering a tax refund or financial help during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government has an up-to-date list of common HMRC scams on their website and all similar scams should be reported to them directly.
- A text supposedly from the Government claiming that your movements have been monitored and that you are being fined for leaving your house too frequently during the lockdown. You are asked to click on a link to pay a fine. The Government has so far only sent one text to UK citizens and all others are fake.
- HMRC has also warned that returning NHS workers are being targeted by promoters of tax avoidance. Read more on their website.
- An email supposedly from the World Health Organisation (WHO) asking you to click on a link or download information about COVID-19. The WHO has issued a statement warning against these scams and have said that they will not contact you in this way.
What to Do
If you receive any of these emails or texts, do not click on any links or open any attachments. If you do, your details could be harvested by scammers. Ofcom has published advice for consumers on dealing with phone and text scams related to COVID-19.
Report scam messages to Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000 or through their new website dedicated to COVID-19.
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Get genuine information and updates about the COVID-19 pandemic from official websites:
Find a full list of community links and trusted information sources on our website.
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