New targeted testing for certain workplaces is being rolled
out - with the food industry prioritised, as part of the
government’s close engagement with the sector.
At a roundtable with supermarket leaders yesterday
(Thursday 22 July), the government committed to putting in
place actions to support the resilience of the food supply
chain.
Following clinical trial results, daily contact testing
will be rolled out to critical workplaces in the food
supply chain so that contacts who would otherwise be
self-isolating can instead take daily tests.
Priority testing sites have already been identified with
industry for urgent implementation this week, including the
largest supermarket distribution centres, with rollout to
hundreds of sites planned to start next week, with up to
500 sites in scope.
The move will allow daily testing for staff to take place
so they can continue their vital work to supplying food for
the nation. It will mean workers who have received NHS
Covid 19 app alert to isolate or have been called by Test
and Trace will be able to continue working if they test
negative.
Environment Secretary said:
Food businesses across the country have been the hidden
heroes of the pandemic. We are working closely with
industry to allow staff to go about their essential work
safely with daily testing.
The last 18 months have demonstrated that we have a
highly resilient food supply chain. There are sufficient
food supplies in the system and people can and should
shop as normal.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
Throughout this global pandemic, workers in our food and
drink sectors have overcome enormous challenges and done
everything they can to keep our shelves stocked and our
fridges full.
As we manage this virus and do everything we can to break
chains of transmission, daily contact testing of workers
in this vital sector will help to minimise the disruption
caused by rising cases in the coming weeks, while
ensuring workers are not put at risk.
In addition, the critical worker scheme announced on Monday
applies to critical roles in the food supply chain.
Employers are already in contact with Defra and approvals
will follow shortly for named critical workers to attend
their workplaces when they are fully vaccinated and the
contact of a positive case.
The government will continue to engage with food sector and
provide all support needed. Self-isolation is an essential
tool for suppressing the transmission of the virus.
People who have been identified as contacts are at least
five times more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than
other members of the public. Vaccines are highly effective
at reducing the risk of serious illness, hospitalisation
and death, and we are encouraging everyone to get the
vaccine.
However, even those who are fully vaccinated may still
become infected, including with asymptomatic infection,
potentially passing the disease onto others.
