Government Expands Rapid Workplace Testing Eligibility
The Government has expanded eligibility for rapid workplace testing to businesses registered in England with more than 50 employees, where employees cannot work from home.
Previously, the programme was limited to businesses with 250 or more employees.
The Government has reported that more than 2.5 million tests have been distributed across the public and private sector and hopes the use of these tests will help to contain the virus - especially considering that one in three people may have coronavirus (COVID-19) without showing symptoms and could unknowingly infect others. The Government has launched an online portal to enable businesses to register and find out if they could get access to rapid testing.
The Government updated its Working Safely during coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance on 10 February 2021 to reflect this change. The guidance confirms that the use of rapid testing does not affect businesses' responsibility to maintain safety measures regardless of whether employees have received a negative test result or a coronavirus vaccine.
If you would like to know more about the latest guidance on coronavirus testing, vaccinations and potential legal issues, we have compiled a Q&A article which provides answers by our lawyers in the Employment Law team.
