Health secretary Matt Hancock has announced an expansion of the UK government's COVID-19 testing operation so that symptomatic workers who are unable to work from home are also eligible, including in construction and infrastructure staff.
As key workers, frontline highways and transport staff have been able to book tests online at gov.ukhowever spaces have been limited and book up fast.
The latest expansion in testing eligibility comes on the back of a major increase in testing capacity as Mr Hancock attempts to reach 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month.
The expansion covers:
- Everyone in England aged 65 and over with coronavirus symptoms can now get tested, along with symptomatic members of their household
- Symptomatic workers who are unable to work from home also eligible for testing
- Testing of all asymptomatic NHS and social care staff and care home residents also being rolled out
Mr Hancock said: 'Expansion of our testing programme protects our most vulnerable and keeps people safe.
'Testing is now available to all over 65s and members of their households, if they have symptoms.
'Any worker who needs to leave their home in order to go to work, and their households, if any of them have symptoms can also get a test. This means construction workers to emergency plumbers, research scientists to those in manufacturing - can now be tested.' All they need to do is go on the internet and apply for a test.'
A statement from the Department of Health said: There are now more than 40 drive-through testing sites across the country, and, by the end of the week, 25,000 home testing kits will be available for ordering every day.'
Highways England is supporting a network of mobile testing units, which is also travelling the country to reach care homes, police stations, prisons and other sites where there is demand for testing. The network is expected to reach over 70 units by the weekend.
Since the beginning of April, the government has significantly increased the UK’s coronavirus testing capacity, which currently stands at 73,400 tests per day and said it was 'on track to reach 100,000 tests daily by the end of the month'.
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