Organisations are being encouraged to register their interest by 31 March to order lateral flow tests for their employees. The tests will remain free until the end of June and can deliver a result in less than 30 minutes. They can be a vital tool in preventing the spread of Coronavirus, particularly because one in three people are asymptomatic.
UK Government’s roadmap out of lockdown
Workplace testing can help break chains of transmission, encouraging positive cases to isolate immediately. They will form a core part of the UK Government’s road out of lockdown, alongside social distancing measures and the vaccination roll-out.
Over 14,000 businesses have signed up to offer workplace testing to their staff unable to work from home, while 14,00 have registered their interest. Both public and private sector organisations have signed up to provide rapid testing at asymptomatic testing sites, alongside a self-test option for those unable to access a workplace testing site.
Where to find information about rapid testing
The UK Government has launched an online portal for businesses looking to introduce workplace testing. Businesses can find all the information they need to plan and deliver their testing programme, along with promotional materials.
Testing is still available through community testing sites, now provided by all Local Authorities. Small businesses that cannot offer workplace testing can find their local test site using the UK Government’s postcode checker.
Regular workplace testing is a vital part of our route back to normal life, which is why I’m very pleased that we’re now expanding our offer of free workplace testing to businesses of all sizes, including SMEs. These rapid tests will allow positive cases of COVID-19 to be caught quickly, which is crucial in helping businesses protect their workplaces and employees as we cautiously lift restrictions. I urge all businesses to register their interest in the programme before 31 March to help break chains of transmission and keep people safe.
