New Rules & Free Rapid Home Testing for Employers

On the day when the Stay At Home rule ends and the Rule of 6 (outdoors) comes into force and when shielding is due to end in 2 days, from 6th April, the workplace testing programme will supply home test kits to companies with over 10 workers where it is not possible to set up testing on-site, due to a lack of space or because companies operate across multiple sites.

Businesses across the country will be eligible to order the home test kits online to distribute to their employees. These self-test kits will be picked up by staff from their employer with clear instructions about how to take the test. Staff will then complete the home test in the normal way, before reporting their results to the NHS using the provided gov.uk address.

Businesses are encouraged to register before 12th April in order to access free tests until the end of June, even if they’re not yet open or are not able to start using the tests straight away. Start HERE.

Testing will form a crucial part of everyday life as parts of society reopen. Regular testing could be the difference between a workplace being able to stay open and operational, or needing to close due to a Covid-19 outbreak.

For many employers on-site testing has already become an essential part of its employee offer and a routine part of working life.

Around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus don’t have symptoms, which means they could be spreading the virus in workplaces without knowing. The Government has also confirmed twice-weekly home testing using lateral flow tests for free to all adults in households with Primary, Secondary school and College aged children and young people, including childcare and support bubbles.

The Official of National Statistics (ONS), in response to the NHS Test and Trace, revealed that 86% of people testing positive for Coronavirus are fully complying with self-isolation guidance for their full isolation period. The majority of respondents (68%) also fully understood the self-isolation guidance. Of people who did not fully comply, the most common breaches were to buy food, get medicines or medical appointments.

#Broadwindsor,#Burstock,#Blackdown,#Drimpton,#Hursey,#Kittwhistle,#Seaborough,#Dorset,#WestDorset,#2021,#NationalLockdown,#BWGPC,#RuleOf6,#Coronavirus,#Covid19,#Pandemic,#TestKits,#ONS,#SocialDistancing,#BeSafe,#StaySafe