Business COVID testing options for those without symptoms with Ben Stimson, Chief Customer Officer – NHS Test & Trace chaired by Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor for Business.

During the easing of lockdown, testing will be more important than ever. The government has committed funding for free testing until the end of June and is encouraging businesses of all sizes, even those not yet open, to register by 31 March.

In preparation for returning to the workplace on a more regular basis, this webinar will inform you about the suite of testing routes available to businesses. You will hear from Ben Stimson, Chief Customer Officer – NHS Test & Trace, on the options available to your business, how to access testing, and have the opportunity to ask questions.

During lockdown your staff should continue to work from home unless they are key workers, or it is unreasonable for them to do their job without leaving the house.

There are three options available to all businesses in England who wish to provide testing for their employees who cannot work from home.

1. Register to receive free lateral flow tests by 31st March - any business which is registered in England and which has employees who cannot work from home can now access Lateral Flow Tests, for their employees to use at work, here. It is important that businesses register for this service even if you are not planning to use the service immediately. 

2. Set up a testing service using a third-party provider - the Department for Health and Social care has put together a list of providers and  guidance on using this option. This is available here.   

3. Advise employees to test at a local community asymptomatic testing centre - community asymptomatic testing facilities are being provided by local authorities. Employees may be able to access free and regular testing for coronavirus via community asymptomatic testing in their local borough, even if they are not displaying symptoms (a fever, a new continuous cough or a loss of smell and/or taste). If their local borough does not have tests available, they may be able to access a test through the borough they work in. Find the availability and opening times and site locations for these community testing facilities here.  

Whichever option you choose, it’s important that you’re clear about the implications of a positive and a negative test result, including what actions need to be taken for each result and the support that you will need to provide staff who are tested. Further information on lateral flow tests is available here. 

 In particular, staff who receive a negative test result but subsequently develop symptoms must self-isolate immediately and order an NHS test online or by calling 119, even if their negative test was very recent. Staff who receive a positive result must self-isolate immediately. 

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should request an NHS test  online or call 199.  

We have compiled some frequently asked questions for businesses and employers which are published on the London Business Hub here.