Expansion of access to coronavirus testing revealed

Anyone in England with coronavirus symptoms who either has to leave home to go to work or is aged 65 and over will now be able to get tested.

The government announcement will mean that people who cannot work from home and those aged 65 and over can know for sure whether they have coronavirus and need to continue isolating. Members of their households with symptoms – a new continuous cough or high temperature - will also be eligible for testing.

Testing coordinator Prof John Newton told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the expansion in eligibility means 25 million people can now book through the government's test-booking website.

The government has also said that NHS staff, care home staff and care home residents will be eligible for testing whether or not they have symptoms.

Working with Public Health England, the Care Quality Commission and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the government is piloting sending packages of ‘satellite’ test kits directly to care homes across England to enable testing of residents.

To date, 4,760 tests have been delivered to more than 4,300 locations. In addition, over 25,000 care staff have already been tested.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Expansion of our testing programme protects our most vulnerable and keeps people safe. Testing is now available to all over 65s and members of their households, if they have symptoms. Any worker who needs to leave their home in order to go to work, and their households, if any of them have symptoms can also get a test. This means construction workers to emergency plumbers, research scientists to those in manufacturing - can now be tested. All they need to do is go on the internet and apply for a test.”