Construction workers among essential workers who can get Coronovirus testing, says government
Onsite construction workers in England showing symptoms of Covid-19 are among the essential workers eligible for testing if they get symptoms of the disease.
Anyone working onsite who starts to feel ill can register themselves for testing alongside NHS workers and staff in other essential work categories.
Eligibility guidance published by the Department of Health & Social Care has been updated to reflect the new policy.
It says:
Who can be tested
Our priority is testing patients to inform their clinical diagnosis.
We are also testing:
- all essential workers including NHS and social care workers with symptoms (see the full list of essential workers)
- anyone over 65 with symptoms
- anyone with symptoms whose work cannot be done from home (for example, construction workers, shop workers, emergency plumbers and delivery drivers)
- anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus and lives with any of those identified above
Anyone in one of these groups can find out whether they have the virus and testing is most effective within three days of symptoms developing.
Click here to download a PDF that gives you al the information and links you need to get a test.
This applies to England only. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own lists and criteria. You can see the websites for each country by clicking on the links below.
You can read more about the England scheme here.