Mar 25th, 2021
5 mins
Introduction
Around 1 in 3 people with coronavirus do not have symptoms, which means they could be spreading the virus in workplaces without realising. Rapid testing for people without symptoms detects cases quickly, meaning positive cases can isolate immediately and break chains of transmission.
The food sector is an essential industry that needs to keep running and is one where workers cannot work from home. As we continue to follow the roadmap out of lockdown, testing will form a crucial part of everyday life. Regular, rapid testing will be a fundamental tool to prevent outbreaks in the workplace as we cautiously ease restrictions, keeping employees safe and businesses open.
Government’s offer to you
Businesses have until 31 March to register for the government’s workplace testing scheme, which will provide lateral flow technology (LFT/LFD) free of charge until 30 June. Businesses of any size, including those with fewer than 50 employees, can sign up. By registering you are not committing to testing nor do you need to place an order when you register an interest. Registration provides you with the opportunity to access government testing models as soon as they become available thus, allowing you to better assess and decide on what will be most appropriate for your business. Over 48,000 businesses have registered to date.
Government is continuing to develop options in this space and if the situation changes, this will be communicated. Defra urge businesses to register for weekly testing even if at the current time your business is closed, or you are undecided on the model to be adopted.
In addition to registering, businesses with fewer than 50 employees may want to contact their local authority in the first instance to explore the possibility of using the growing number of community testing facilities. All local authorities in England are offering regular testing for those who need to leave home for work. ( https://www.gov.uk/find-covid-19-lateral-flow-test-site )
Next steps
To ensure that you have access to free test kits until 30 June 2021, register your interest by 31 March 2021 ( https://www.gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests )
Note: This service is currently only available to businesses registered in England. Get advice on coronavirus testing:
If your business is registered in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland but you have employees in England, you will need to register by email. Contact p-and-psector@dhsc.gov.uk for more advice.
Defra is inviting food businesses through several communication channels, so please feel free to share this information wider.
