How exactly will essential worker testing work?

[TheOtherSideOfTheMountain]

So from tomorrow, essential workers who show symptoms, and their families, are eligible for testing.

The idea apparently being that if they test negative, all is good and they can return to work not self isolate.

But surely this doesn't help the issue of them still being around people on a daily basis who could be infecting them?

I get the testing is a great thing for essential workers who are already in the workplace and never self isolated at all. My concern is the companies which currently have staff working from home, yet fall into the eligible criteria for testing. And now use this as basis to insist they all come back to the physical premises if tested negative....thereby exposing them all to each other on an ongoing basis?

@TabbyMumz well quite - and we don't have a car hence I'm not getting tested!

Knobwithak....yes, I dont blame you. I think this has been one of the reasons the Governments testing numbers havent been met. Firstly, people need to be tested within a few days of first onset of symptoms, then they need to drive, and then they need to drive quite away for the test.

"So a support workers child has a fever. Without testing that means 14 days self isolating. Child is tested and if it’s negative parent can get back to work.
It’s not about people who can work from home being made to come in. It’s still the case if you can work from home you should."

Except....child still has a fever and is unwell. Child then cant go to school. Parent needs to stay off.

Apologies to CeeJay81 - apparently there are home tests available.. but they've run out..

Update - I got through and will receive tests via courier. They offered home test or drive through. I need to do the test and a courier will come and collect. Sounds very straightforward. Fingers crossed!

I work for the NHS so these tests have been an option for a week or 2 now. I haven't had one myself, but for us the process is:
you or a member of your household is symptomatic, if you/ they wish (it is currently optional) you request testing via a form on the intranet or your manager can fill it in for you if you can't get on the work intranet at home, they tell you where to go (there is centre minutes from my house but I don't know whether I would have to go to the one by work), if you can't drive or are too unwell to drive you can be driven by a member of your household but not get an uber or get someone outside your household to drive you.

As far as I know, if the test comes back negative, you can come back to work unless you feel too unwell with whatever symptom caused you to request testing, and, if you become symptomatic again a few weeks later, you can have another test. The test only tells you if you have it that day, and keyworkers are repeatedly exposed to the virus so there is a reasonable chance you could pick it up after your negative test.

Does it also apply to key workers who work from home and therefore have no pressing need to be out of isolation if ill? Both my parents are key workers who have been working from home for weeks and neither can see why they would need to be prioritised for a test as regardless of whether or not they have Covid, they will work if well enough and wont if they aren't, and will call GP/111/999 when/if needed.

Obviously if you have children you need to be able to send to school in order to do your work then it's important to be tested, but for key workers working from home without children that need childcare, I'm not sure I get it. If my parents chose to get tested they'd just be clogging up the system.
Maybe I'm missing something?

Ooh, that's interesting Italianmeringuebuttercream

I'm in london so perhaps they have a larger quota of tests? I'm doubtful that my son will still be showing symptoms when the test arrives so unless they show antibodies I guess it's a waste of time? I am beginning to feel unwell so for my sanity I hope I'm symptomatic long enough to get a positive result!

@meredithgrey1 I feel exactly the same, I am a key worker working from home so if I feel symptomatic surely I don’t need to do a test as I am wfh and not in contact with anyone?

@Meredithgrey1
@gingajewel

I don’t think they have made this terribly clear on the website, but no it isn’t supposed to apply to key workers who can do their job from home.
The intention is for key workers who have to isolate due to symptoms to be able to return to essential jobs if they are found to be negative.

If you work for a civil service department they have mostly issued their own internal guidelines to warn people not to apply for tests unless it is necessary.

Unfortunately I suspect this system will be highly abused and many people will order tests when they can work from home, when they don’t have the relevant symptoms or when their jobs aren’t strictly essential.
This means that there are people who do fit the criteria, such as key front line staff, who will have to continue to isolate because they won’t be able to access the tests.