Covid Update: The Department of Health & Social Care widens scope for asymptomatic testing for Construction businessesJanuary 2021

Covid Update: The Department of Health & Social Care widens scope for asymptomatic testing for Construction businesses

The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) is widening the scope of the support it provides for asymptomatic testing to include businesses in construction and other priority sectors with over 50 employees. 

Smaller businesses can access employee testing via their Local Authority’s Community Testing scheme. For more details on this please email communitytesting.centralops@dhsc.gov.uk.  

For businesses with over 50 employees that choose to take part in the Workplace Testing scheme, DHSC will provide the following:

  1. Lateral Flow Test kits; 
  2. Guidance on how to set up your own testing site (including staffing, process and safety); 
  3. Online training for testing site staff to enable them to use the test accurately and safely; 
  4. The web systems to securely manage the processing of the resulting data; and 
  5. Necessary paperwork to become a testing facility and the data and reporting requirements. 

DHSC is extending the series of webinars to introduce the approach and gauge levels of demand. DHSC is also working on a digital solution for business to access this information in future and will provide further information on this in the webinar. 

An ‘Introduction to Mass Testing’ webinar is running from 2-2:45pm, from Monday 1st February - Friday 5th February. The link to join is below and is the same for each meeting.

 These introductory overview sessions will last 45 minutes, provide an overview of testing and answer any initial questions you may have. They will cover: 

 High-level overview of Mass Testing for surveillance and Daily Contact Testing to provide understanding of the processes and what is required. 

  • Lateral Flow Technology and reason for using.
  • Frequency of testing.
  • Resources required.
  • Test Site requirement.

DHSC Introductory webinar

Monday 1st Feb – Friday 5th Feb, 14:00 - 14:45.  Click here to join the meeting.

 If you have any further questions, please contact Employee.Testing@beis.gov.uk.