Everyone with symptoms now eligible for coronavirus tests

The government has announced that anyone with symptoms of coronavirus is now eligible to book a test, ahead of the rollout of the test and trace service.

The expansion in testing eligibility comes after all 4 UK Chief Medical Officers confirmed that anosmia has been added as a symptom of COVID-19. Anosmia is the loss of or a change in your normal sense of smell, and it can also affect your sense of taste. The verdict means that people should now self-isolate immediately if they have: a new, continuous cough; a high temperature; or a loss of or change in their normal sense of smell or taste.

The extension in testing eligibility comes ahead of the rollout of the new test and trace service, with the government expanding total testing capacity towards 200,000 tests a day. The Department for Health and Social Care has said that the number of tests available for the general population will increase as capacity continues to expand.

The tracing element of the service in England will be supported by 21,000 contact tracers who have now been recruited, and will play a vital role working to reach those who have been in close contact with someone who has developed coronavirus. The workforce of contract tracers will be overseen by experts from Public Health England and local government.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Following the massive ramping up of our national testing programme, anybody with symptoms of coronavirus in the United Kingdom is now eligible for a test. This is a huge step forward in our plan to slow the spread of the virus, protect the NHS and give the peace of mind these tests can bring. We will continue to give priority to NHS staff and care home residents and workers in order to protect our most vulnerable.”