Here are the key workers who will now be tested for COVID-19 after Government extends programme

Coronavirus testing will now be rolled out to additional frontline workers, the Department of Health and Social Care have confirmed.
Coronavirus testing will now be rolled out to additional frontline workers.Coronavirus testing will now be rolled out to additional frontline workers.
Coronavirus testing will now be rolled out to additional frontline workers.

It comes following increased testing capacity for those with symptoms of coronavirus in England, which means that frontline workers and symptomatic members of their household can now be tested.

The increased testing aims to allow key workers to return to work as soon as possible if they test negative for coronavirus.

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Frontline workers being tested will now include police, fire and rescue services, local authority staff, judiciary and prisons staff.

A statement on the Government website said: “Testing will allow those currently unable to return to work because they or a member of their family or household have symptoms of coronavirus to know whether they do have the virus

“Frontline workers now eligible for testing will include the police, the fire service, frontline benefits workers and those working with vulnerable children and adults among others.

“Where there is extra testing capacity, testing will be expanded to other groups of workers that need it, including those delivering critical medical, energy, utility, transport and food supplies.”

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The increased testing comes as the Government launches a partnership with universities, research institutes and companies, to begin rollout of the network of new Lighthouse Labs and drive-through testing sites across the UK.

This network is providing thousands more swab tests, which are used to identify if someone currently has the virus.

The full list of eligible workers now includes:

All NHS and social care staff, including hospital, community and primary care, and staff providing support to frontline NHS services and voluntary workers.

Police, fire and rescue services.

Local authority staff, including those working with vulnerable children, adults and victims of domestic abuse, and those working with the homeless and rough sleepers.

Defence, prisons and probation staff, and judiciary.

Frontline benefits workers.

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Anyone who is eligible – has symptoms of coronavirus a high temperature or new continuous cough – and would like to be tested should speak to their employer.

Where there is extra testing capacity, the Government will also expand testing to other groups of workers that need it.

This will include those delivering critical medical, energy, utility, transport and food supplies in both the public and private sector.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said: “The expansion of testing will allow even more vital workers to return to the frontline.

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“We have built up capacity in the system with new testing and diagnostic facilities backed by Britain’s world-class scientists and industry partners.

“This means we are now able to give even more workers who support and protect us the ability to know if they have coronavirus if they have been demonstrating symptoms.

“Testing is key in our battle against coronavirus and we will continue to prioritise patients, NHS and social care workers but we now have the ability to provide more people with the certainty they need to get back to the front line when it is safe to do so.”

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