Yesterday the Government announced a new plan to drive and increase workplace testing in sectors open during lockdown, to detect coronavirus in people who are not showing symptoms.

Government Departments will be ensuring businesses with over 50 employees can have targeted, rapid testing set up for all key “workplaces” to ensure vital public and economic services can continue.

The Government is working closely with organisations across different sectors that are vital to the running of our country and where employees cannot work from home during lockdown, from transport networks to food manufacturers.

Testing is key to breaking the chains of transmission. More than 2.5 million tests have been distributed across the public and private sectors so far, and an online portal has been launched to make it even easier for business in the private sector to get involved and find out more about offering rapid testing in the workplace.

Employers should regularly test their staff, as around one in three people have the virus without symptoms and could potentially infect people without even knowing it, making focused testing on those without symptoms so essential. 

To register to order coronavirus tests for your employees, please visit the online portal at: https://www.gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests.

For more information on the rapid workplace testing programme, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-boost-to-rapid-workplace-testing.