Coronavirus: Full list of workers who are being tested in the UK and how to get tested

It was announced on April 17 that access to testing for those with symptoms of Covid-19 will be extended across England to include additional frontline workers and symptomatic members of their household.

Thanks to increased testing capacity the government is increasing testing to a wider group of frontline workers in addition to patients, NHS or social care workers who need one.

This follows the launch of the government’s partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to begin a roll out of the network of new Lighthouse Labs and drive-through testing sites across the UK, with more than 20 testing sites opened to date.

A drive-through test centre is set to open in Portsmouth for NHS staff and key workers.

According to sources, the centre will be based in Tipner West, just off the M275.

Here’s what you need to know about coronavirus testing:

Who can get tested for Covid-19 in the UK?

The government has expanded the groups of key workers who will be able to get tested for coronavirus if they have symptoms.

The priority remains testing patients to inform their clinical diagnosis.

However the following categories of people will also be eligible for testing:

- all NHS and social care staff, including hospital, community and primary care, relevant staff providing support to frontline NHS services, and voluntary workers. Examples include:

- clinicians

- nurses

- GPs

- staff in community pharmacy

- healthcare assistants

- those providing hotel accommodation for NHS staff

- police, fire and rescue services, including the National Crime Agency, security agencies, MOD police and the British Transport Police

- local authority staff, including those working with vulnerable children and adults, with victims of domestic abuse, and with the homeless and rough sleepers. Examples include:

- adult and children’s social care workers and services

- all frontline local authority staff

- staff and voluntary workers in residential care settings for vulnerable children and young people including residential special schools, respite provision and residential special post-16 institutions for young people

- staff providing home care support to children and young people with special needs

- child, youth and family social caseworkers

- voluntary sector organisations providing substance misuse treatment and domestic abuse support

- public and environmental health staff, including inspectors

- defence, prisons, probation and judiciary staff. Examples include:

- defence personnel and the COVID Support Force

- staff in prisons (adult and youth) and Approved Premises

- probation staff

- judiciary

- operational HM Courts and Tribunal Service staff

- frontline benefits workers

The list also includes other frontline workers as determined by local or national need. Examples include:

- medical supply chain and distribution workers (including veterinary medicine)

- testing infrastructure workers (such as laboratories)

- workers in the funeral industry and coroners

- frontline Home Office and Border Force staff

- Maritime and Coastguard Agency staff

- critical personnel in the continuity of energy, utilities and waste networks

- critical personnel in food and drink production

- workers critical to the continuity of essential travel and movement of goods

These categories apply in England only. Devolved administrations’ lists may vary.

This list is not exhaustive and local and regional areas can refer other frontline workers in their area for testing as determined by need and available capacity.

SEE ALSO: Hampshire volunteers to take part in first UK Covid-19 vaccine trials

How can key workers get tested?

Any frontline worker in England who is on the above list and would like to be tested should speak to their employer.

Employers of frontline workers will be provided with information on how to make an appointment for their staff through their local resilience forum (where the local region chooses to organise testing in this way), their associated national department or agency, or directly through the Department of Health and Social Care.

Any employer that has any queries should contact their local resilience forum, their associated national government department/agency, or the Department of Health and Social Care at [email protected].

How long before you get your results?

The test involves taking a swab of the nose and the back of the throat, which can be done by the person themselves (self-administered) or by someone else (assisted).

There is a network of couriers who collect the completed samples and deliver them safely to one of our laboratories.

The swab samples are analysed at our labs, and the result is communicated back to the individual.

The government says it aims to return test results within 48 hours of a swab being taken.

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