Unpaid carers eligible for testing

The Government has changed the guidance on who can be tested for coronavirus to include unpaid carers.

The latest guidance says, under the heading ‘List of essential workers and those prioritised for testing (England only)’, that” “All NHS and social care staff, including: doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff, including volunteers and unpaid carers” can be tested.

CarersUK welcomed the change.

The list of those who can be tested for the virus includes:

• all key workers, including NHS and social care workers with symptoms
• 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 above
• social care workers and residents in care homes (with or without symptoms)
• NHS workers and patients without symptoms, in line with NHS England guidance

The Government says testing is most effective within three days of symptoms developing. The list of who can be tested applies to England only.

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