Businesses with 10 or more employees will soon be able to access free rapid lateral coronavirus tests for their employees.
If you cannot provide workplace testing, you will be able to order lateral rapid tests for free for your employees to collect from the workplace to use at home twice a week.
Previously, only larger employers were entitled to the rapid tests however the government are now expanding the scheme in order to detect more asymptomatic cases and preventing covid-19 outbreaks within the workplace for those businesses who require their staff to travel into the office or visit clients.
The rapid testing scheme, along with the hugely successful vaccination programme are a vital part of the roadmap out of lockdown.
The lateral flow tests offer peace of mind to employees required to visit client’s premises and being able to access tests for free will make a hug difference to smaller businesses.
We are pleased to hear the scheme is being extended to smaller businesses to test workers at home where space for testing is limited.
Most companies can register online, and I encourage all eligible businesses to sign up to the scheme in order to support their home workers.
The Chamber network have called for an expansion of workplace testing and are pleased to see the government’s response this week.
The deadline to sign up to the scheme and receive free rapid tests is 12 April, interested businesses can sign up here www.gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests.