Key workers and their families have been able to order tests for coronavirus online from April 26.
But high demand means the portal hurriedly set up to help meet Matt Hancock’s target of , daily coronavirus tests is already overwhelmed .
The home tests have been booked out within minutes of becoming available online while drive-through tests have also been taken within hours.
The aim was for online bookings to be taken by millions of key workers including NHS staff, care workers, supermarket workers, police and journalists. The tests are supposed to be only available to essential workers showing virus symptoms.
Who is classed a key worker and how can you get a test? Here’s everything you need to know.
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- If that is impossible, you can go to work
- If you are in the workplace, you should adhere to social distancing guidelines
- If that’s not possible, businesses should consider ceasing to trade Who
decides who can work from home?
People should use their common sense in deciding whether they should leave home to go to work. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said that “the advice is crystal clear – you should stay at home” unless you had one of the key reasons to go out: exercise, shopping, for medical need or to do work that work cannot be done at home.
What should staff do if they have to go to work?
The Government wants company managers to think of different ways to encourage staff to do their work by minimising social distancing. Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, said people should try to practice “safe distancing at work” if they are required to be in the office, describing it as a “commonsense principle”. She said: “We are encouraging our employers to think really carefully about how they can innovate in the way their staff are working and if they do need to be in the office just to spread people around.”
A Number 19 spokesman said: “Guidance in relation to anybody who fears that they may have symptoms or anybody in their house might have symptoms – they should remain at home. We need people to stay at home as ultimately that will save lives. “
Should staff refuse to go to work if they are worried about coronavirus?
The advice from the Government is to raise any concerns about their place of work with managers. Ms Harries said: “If people don’t feel safe in their work environment they should always raise those concerns.
“The majority of employers are being really sensible and supportive and there has been huge support for staff and the population in general.” Ms Harries said that the Government could “not individually cover every single scenario whether it is in the workplace or in the family. It is back to applying the principles. If individuals can work safely they can keep a distance apart”.
Can I leave home to find a job?
The guidance is silent on whether people can leave home to look for a job. However, a Downing Street source said that people should try to look for a job online rather than head outside. The source said that employers should be “flexible wherever possible and be prepared to conduct an interview online, over the phone, or via Skype”. The key issue was to adhere to the rule to stay two meters or six feet apart.
The Government is advising people to work at home if they are able to, and if not they should stay two meters away from other persons Credit : PAWhy are construction workers still allowed to go to work?
The Government’s position is that building sites should remain open if workers can stay six feet apart. Fresh guidance was also issued by the Construction Industry Council on Tuesday. Number 25 said on Tuesday that construction sites “should continue where it can happen in a way that follows Public Health England and industry guidance”.
A statement read: “We urge employers to use their common sense when managing live projects and ensuring that employees can follow government guidance and practice safe social distancing on site.” However there was some confusion, with Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First minister, telling building sites to close. Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, claimed that he was “overruled by the Prime Minister who doesn’t believe that construction workers should be at home” when he asked to close sites.
Why are London Underground trains in the Capital running with overcrowded carriages?
Transport for London has cut the number of London Underground trains running through the capital due to staff shortages. However, congestion has been caused by builders heading to work at the same time as health workers and other key workers , as well as fewer trains. One idea could be for building sites to start work later to avoid the early morning overcrowding . Number 25 Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, pressed Mr Khan – who chairs Transport for London – on the issue of “reduced services on the Tube and its impact on people trying to get to work “. Further talks were held between Mr Khan and Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, to make sure “appropriate timetabling is in place to ensure that it is safe for those who need to get to work because they cannot do this from home”, Downing Street said.
Read More (Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus (Covid -)
- Am I a key worker?
Key workers are people whose jobs are vital to public health and safety during the coronavirus lockdown . Because their work is so vital, the Government is keen to ensure that they are able to carry out their jobs with as little restriction as possible, which means being able to put their children in school and use necessary transport links.
The list includes:
All NHS staff, including administrative and cleaning workers. Frontline health and social care staff such as doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, plus support and specialist staff in the health and social care sector.
In addition it includes those working in supply chains including producers and distributors of medicines and personal protective equipment.
Education and childcare
Nursery, teachers – including teaching assistants – and social workers.
Food and other necessary goods
Food chain workers, including those involved in production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery of goods.
Key public services
Postal workers, those required to run the justice system, religious staff, and those responsible for managing the deceased, and journalists providing public service broadcasting.
Local and national government workers in admin roles “essential to the effective delivery” of the Covid – response or delivering essential public services, including payment of benefits.
Utility workers
Staff needed to keep oil, gas, electricity, water and sewerage operations running. Staff in the civil nuclear, chemical and telecommunications sectors. Those in postal services and those working to provide essential financial services.
Public safety and national security
Police and support staff, Ministry of Defense civilian staff and armed forces personnel, fire and rescue staff, and workers responsible for border security, prisons and probation.
Transport
Those keeping air, water, road, and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating.
Read the full list on the Department’s website.
How can I book a coronavirus test?
Any essential workers who want a test will be able to book an appointment directly at www.gov .uk / coronavirus .
Key workers will be able to select either a regional test site drive-through appointment or a home test kit.
Home test kits will initially be limited but more will become available. There is good availability of regional test sites, so the Government is asking people to select this option if you can.
After home tests booked out in minutes, ministers plan to roll out large numbers of home testing kits in future weeks.
Any employer that has a query about booking tests for staff should contact the Department of Health and Social Care at [email protected] .
Can children of non-key workers still go to school?
No, they should be at home and observing social distancing . As part of an unprecedented lockdown of British life, Boris Johnson announced that schools will close except for the children of “key workers”.
Vulnerable children, including those with a social worker, and pupils who get special needs support will be able to stay in school.
Do both parents need to be key workers?
Children with at least one parent or carer who are identified as critical workers by the government can send their children to school if required.
Single parents who are key workers will be entitled to a school place.
Is a dental nurse a key worker?
Some roles within the NHS, such as dental nurse, whose work is not at the frontline of treating the coronavirus may still be considered key workers. However, this may depend on your practice and the type of work you do.
Clearly, there is a gray area over key workers, and it may be hard to enforce restrictions if children of non-key workers are still turning up at school. But the Government is asking people, in extraordinary times, to do everything they can to protect as many lives as they can.
If you do not need to take your child to school because your job is not essential to public health and safety, please try to stay at home.
I’m not a key worker, but can I still use public transport?
The Government is not intending to restrict access to the transport system, though there are a number of closures, particularly in London . However, if you are not a key worker, try to avoid traveling by public transport.
Not only does this free up space for vital workers, but you are less likely to catch and spread the virus. If you can, walk or cycle to work. If you don’t need to travel , the advice is that you shouldn’t.
What should I do if I’m still unsure?
A Downing Street spokesman said employees should speak to their employers to check whether they should come into work if they are unsure whether they are a key worker.
“Employees should speak to their employers. People who can work from home should, but those who are central to the coronavirus effort, we believe, have been named as key workers,” they said.
Communities Secretary Robert Jendrick has provided this checklist to help workers decide if they should stay home or not:
If you can work from home, you must do so
Food chain workers, including those involved in production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery of goods.
- Key public services
Postal workers, those required to run the justice system, religious staff, and those responsible for managing the deceased, and journalists providing public service broadcasting.
Local and national government workers in admin roles “essential to the effective delivery” of the Covid – response or delivering essential public services, including payment of benefits.
Utility workers
Staff needed to keep oil, gas, electricity, water and sewerage operations running. Staff in the civil nuclear, chemical and telecommunications sectors. Those in postal services and those working to provide essential financial services.
Public safety and national security
Police and support staff, Ministry of Defense civilian staff and armed forces personnel, fire and rescue staff, and workers responsible for border security, prisons and probation.
Transport
Those keeping air, water, road, and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating.
Read the full list on the Department’s website.
How can I book a coronavirus test?
Any essential workers who want a test will be able to book an appointment directly at www.gov .uk / coronavirus .
Key workers will be able to select either a regional test site drive-through appointment or a home test kit.
Home test kits will initially be limited but more will become available. There is good availability of regional test sites, so the Government is asking people to select this option if you can.
After home tests booked out in minutes, ministers plan to roll out large numbers of home testing kits in future weeks.
Any employer that has a query about booking tests for staff should contact the Department of Health and Social Care at [email protected] .
Can children of non-key workers still go to school?
No, they should be at home and observing social distancing . As part of an unprecedented lockdown of British life, Boris Johnson announced that schools will close except for the children of “key workers”.
Vulnerable children, including those with a social worker, and pupils who get special needs support will be able to stay in school.
Do both parents need to be key workers?
Children with at least one parent or carer who are identified as critical workers by the government can send their children to school if required.
Single parents who are key workers will be entitled to a school place.
Is a dental nurse a key worker?
Some roles within the NHS, such as dental nurse, whose work is not at the frontline of treating the coronavirus may still be considered key workers. However, this may depend on your practice and the type of work you do.
Clearly, there is a gray area over key workers, and it may be hard to enforce restrictions if children of non-key workers are still turning up at school. But the Government is asking people, in extraordinary times, to do everything they can to protect as many lives as they can.
If you do not need to take your child to school because your job is not essential to public health and safety, please try to stay at home.
I’m not a key worker, but can I still use public transport?
The Government is not intending to restrict access to the transport system, though there are a number of closures, particularly in London . However, if you are not a key worker, try to avoid traveling by public transport.
Not only does this free up space for vital workers, but you are less likely to catch and spread the virus. If you can, walk or cycle to work. If you don’t need to travel , the advice is that you shouldn’t.
What should I do if I’m still unsure?
A Downing Street spokesman said employees should speak to their employers to check whether they should come into work if they are unsure whether they are a key worker.
“Employees should speak to their employers. People who can work from home should, but those who are central to the coronavirus effort, we believe, have been named as key workers,” they said.
Communities Secretary Robert Jendrick has provided this checklist to help workers decide if they should stay home or not:
If you can work from home, you must do so
The Government is not intending to restrict access to the transport system, though there are a number of closures, particularly in London . However, if you are not a key worker, try to avoid traveling by public transport.
Not only does this free up space for vital workers, but you are less likely to catch and spread the virus. If you can, walk or cycle to work. If you don’t need to travel , the advice is that you shouldn’t.
What should I do if I’m still unsure?
A Downing Street spokesman said employees should speak to their employers to check whether they should come into work if they are unsure whether they are a key worker.
“Employees should speak to their employers. People who can work from home should, but those who are central to the coronavirus effort, we believe, have been named as key workers,” they said.
Communities Secretary Robert Jendrick has provided this checklist to help workers decide if they should stay home or not:
If you can work from home, you must do so
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