The government has extended the professions able to access coronavirus testing to include utilities workers.
In an announcement on Friday (17 April), the government issued new guidance which said the police, the fire service, frontline benefits workers and those working with vulnerable children and adults would now be eligible for testing.
It said that “where there is extra testing capacity” this will be expanded to other groups of workers that need it, including those delivering critical energy and utility supplies. This will include symptomatic members of their family or household to allow the key worker to return to work.
Secretary of state for health and social care Matt Hancock said: “I am determined to ensure that everyone who needs a coronavirus test should be able to have access to one. Today’s expansion of testing will allow even more vital workers to return to the front line.
“We have built up capacity in the system with new testing and diagnostic facilities backed by Britain’s world-class scientists and industry partners. This means we are now able to give even more workers who support and protect us the ability to know if they have coronavirus if they have been demonstrating symptoms.
“Testing is key in our battle against coronavirus and we will continue to prioritise patients, NHS and social care workers but we now have the ability to provide more people with the certainty they need to get back to the front line when it is safe to do so.”