ACCESS to testing for keyworkers battling coronavirus on the frontline has been extended across England, the government has revealed.

The government said access to testing for people with symptoms of Covid-19 will be extended to include additional frontline workers and symptomatic members of their family or household.

It is hoped this will allow key workers to return to work without concerns of carrying the virus.

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The extension means a wider group of frontline workers will now be tested in addition to patients, NHS or social care workers who need one.

It comes as part of a government partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to create drive-through testing sites across the UK, with over 20 testing sites opened to date.

These sites are providing thousands more polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab tests, which are used to identify if someone currently has the virus, for frontline workers.

This means those who test negative for coronavirus can return to work as soon as possible to support essential services.

The government is already working to get additional critical workers tested, including police officers, fire and rescue service employees, and those running the justice system.

The full list of eligible workers now includes:

• all NHS and social care staff, including hospital, community and primary care, and staff providing support to frontline NHS services (for example accommodation, catering) and voluntary workers

• police, fire and rescue services

• local authority staff, including those working with vulnerable children, adults and victims of domestic abuse, and those working with the homeless and rough sleepers

• defence, prisons and probation staff, and judiciary

• frontline benefits workers

Anyone who is eligible – has symptoms of coronavirus a high temperature or new continuous cough – and would like to be tested should speak to their employer.

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The relevant employers of keyworkers will be provided with information on how to make an appointment, and where there is extra testing capacity, the government will also expand testing to other groups of workers that need it.

This will include those delivering critical medical, energy, utility, transport and food supplies in both the public and private sector.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said: “I am determined to ensure that everyone who needs a coronavirus test should be able to have access to one. Today’s expansion of testing will allow even more vital workers to return to the front line.

“We have built up capacity in the system with new testing and diagnostic facilities backed by Britain’s world-class scientists and industry partners. This means we are now able to give even more workers who support and protect us the ability to know if they have coronavirus if they have been demonstrating symptoms.

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“Testing is key in our battle against coronavirus and we will continue to prioritise patients, NHS and social care workers but we now have the ability to provide more people with the certainty they need to get back to the front line when it is safe to do so.”

To build capacity the government is also developing mobile testing units and a home test kit that can be delivered to someone’s door so they can test themselves, and their family, without leaving the house.

In time a new website will enable eligible individuals to book a test directly.