Care home staff to receive rapid result tests to protect against Covid variant

December 23, 2020 9

Care home staff to receive rapid-result tests to protect against Covid variant

The rollout of rapid testing is being supported by a £149 million grant.

Care home staff in England will receive two rapid-result tests a week in addition to regular testing to help keep the new coronavirus variant at bay.

Health officials have brought forward plans for care home staff to receive bi-weekly lateral flow device tests (LFDs) as concerns grow about the rapidly spreading strain.

Staff in all tiers will be given two LFDs, one mid-week, in addition to the weekly PCR tests, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.

If a case of coronavirus is identified in a care home in a Tier 4 area, all staff members will be tested daily with LFDs for a week.

Public Health England have confirmed that LFDs can detect the new variant.

Published: 23/12/2020 by Radio NewsHub

Written by: YO1 Radio Web Team

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