Coronavirus Testing for Key Workers

27 April 2020

The Department for Health & Social Care has launched the National Testing Programme to test key workers with symptoms of coronavirus as well as any symptomatic members of their household.

Key workers include passenger and freight transport workers who are critical to the continuity of essential public transport and the production and distribution of food, drink and essential goods. The full list of key workers (in England) can be found here.

Key workers can apply for a coronavirus test here.  They will then automatically be offered an appointment for testing, usually for the following day. The website to arrange a test opens at 8am daily.

Tests are being offered either through the use of a home testing kit or at drive through testing sites, where key workers are required to show their employee ID or confirmation email upon arrival.

In response to the high demand for testing, mobile testing units operated by specially trained Armed Forces personnel have also been set up and the Government aim for 96 of these mobile testing units to be deployed throughout May.

Once the tests have been conducted, the swabs are sent to mega-labs for processing and results are provided within 48 hours.

More information on coronavirus testing is available here.

For further guidance contact Backhouse Jones on 01254 828300.