- Registered carers looking after people in their own homes
will be able to access weekly coronavirus tests
- Care providers will be able to book tests for their staff
through an online portal from Monday
- The rollout marks the next stage in the Government’s
expansion of mass testing
Care workers looking after people in their own homes will be
offered weekly coronavirus tests from Monday the Government
announced today.
Those working for CQC registered providers will receive weekly
PCR tests to administer at home, which will help identify more
asymptomatic cases and protect care users who are more vulnerable
to the virus.
Regular testing will give workers peace of mind by picking up on
any asymptomatic transmission and protect those they care for.
The expansion of testing to homecare workers is the next phase in
the rollout of mass testing across the country, and has been made
possible by the huge increase in testing capacity in recent
weeks. Nearly 35 million tests have now been processed in the UK
since the service began and this week the government announced
two new ‘mega labs’, which will add a further 600,000 to daily UK
testing capacity in early 2021.
Minister for Care, said:
“Homecare workers have been doing an incredible job throughout
the pandemic, caring day in and day out and going the extra mile
to keep people they care for safe from Covid.
“As our testing capacity continues to expand, I’m glad we’re able
to take this next step and make regular testing available to
Homecare workers. Now, as well as having PPE, Homecare workers
will be able to take a weekly test to check they don’t have
Coronavirus.
“We now have the largest testing capacity in Europe, so we’re
using this to protect those who are at greater risk if they catch
Covid.”
Proactively testing asymptomatic individuals helps to identify
those who unknowingly have the virus and enables those who test
positive and their contacts to self-isolate. This is crucial to
break the chains of transmission of the virus.
All registered homecare agencies will be contacted with details
of how to apply for test kits for their carers next week.
Homecare agencies will be responsible for ordering and
distributing tests to all homecare workers for them to conduct at
home on a weekly basis, testing on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday
or Sunday. This approach will maximise capacity available in our
laboratories.
We will be expanding testing further to all other homecare
workers, including live in carers and personal assistants in a
phased rollout. We will provide further details in due course
about how these groups access testing.
A month’s worth of test kits will be delivered to care providers
directly who can distribute tests to their staff using the same
channels used to distribute PPE.
Over 120,000 tests are already ring fenced for social care every
single day, and a testing pilot has begun in care homes this week
to support visiting ahead of a national rollout starting in
December.
Work is also currently being carried out to explore making the
rapid 30 minute lateral flow tests, currently only conducted by
dedicated trained personnel, available for self-administration at
home. This would allow workers to quickly find out if they are
COVID-19 positive and have to isolate.
Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for
Health Protection Baroness Dido Harding said:
“NHS Test and Trace has worked tirelessly to increase capacity
for testing achieving its target of capacity for 500,000 tests by
the end of October. This is testament to a huge amount of work up
and down the country by unsung heroes in labs, distribution
centres, test centres and manufacturing plants.
“I am delighted that this capacity means that we can now roll-out
regular, weekly testing to our domiciliary care staff. This has
long been a priority for us and it will ensure greater protection
to this vital, often unseen workforce and the people they care
for.”
Our approach to testing health and care workers is guided by the
latest scientific advice, which finds that regular testing of
people without symptoms can be most effective among populations
where prevalence is higher and where individuals are more at risk
from coronavirus.
The government continues to expand asymptomatic testing for
Covid-19, with the rollout of lateral flow test kits across
schools, universities, local authorities, and whole area pilots
in Liverpool and Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.
This expansion in testing is the latest measure the Government
has introduced as part of wider ongoing support throughout the
pandemic.
The government has made £4.6 billion available to councils in
England so they can address pressures on local services caused by
the pandemic, including in adult social care, on top of a £1.1bn
Infection Control Fund and free PPE supply for care homes and
domiciliary care.
Notes to editors:
Guidance for homecare providers can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-homecare-workers
