Yesterday (7 February) the Department of Health & Social Care confirmed that the National Workforce Testing scheme had been expanded to cover firms with more than 50 employees.
Previously, only firms with more than 250 employees were eligible to join the scheme, which excluded most printers – in Printweek’s most recent Top 500 survey, fewer than 100 companies met the original requirement.
Around one in three individuals with Covid-19 do not display symptoms, according to the latest government information.
The expectation is that widening the amount of testing taking place to include many more workplaces will help find positive cases earlier, and break hidden chains of transmission.
Mandy Robson, head of health, safety and environment at the BPIF, welcomed the move.
“Last week was really busy lobbying BEIS about this, and we've already created guidance for members about it,” she said.
“Some members have been using the off-site asymptomatic venues, but bringing it on-site gives them a bit more control and better understanding about what's happening at their site. And where they do recognise someone who tests positive they can do the right thing immediately.”
The government announcement said that cabinet ministers have been tasked with encouraging their specific sectors to engage with rapid workplace testing, “marking efforts to normalise testing in the workplace across both public and private sectors”.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged businesses to take up the offer “to help stop this virus spreading further”.
“Employers should regularly test their staff, and this drive across government to raise awareness and encourage more businesses to introduce rapid testing for employees is incredibly important.
“When you consider that around one in three people have the virus without symptoms and could potentially infect people without even knowing it, it becomes clear why focusing testing on those without symptoms is so essential,” Hancock stated.
“We are already working with many employers to scale up workforce testing, spanning the food industry, retail sector, transport network, and across the public sector too. I strongly urge businesses and employees across the country to take up this offer of rapid testing to help stop this virus spreading further.”
The scheme uses lateral flow tests, which “detect cases with high levels of virus, making them effective in finding infectious individuals who are not showing any symptoms and are the most likely to transmit the disease”.
The kits are currently being provided free to both public and private sector employers until “at least” 31 March.
NHS Test & Trace is administering the scheme. Firms need to register to participate via an online portal. Businesses registered in England are eligible. Firms in the devolved nations will need to check the facilities in those countries separately.
Last month the Office for National Statistics published figures for Covid-19 related deaths by occupation, including printing, that were registered between 9 March and 28 December 2020 across England and Wales.
