Last night (Tuesday 28th April) the Government announced that everyone in England aged 65 and over with coronavirus symptoms can now get tested, along with symptomatic members of their households. It said symptomatic workers who are unable to work from home are also eligible for testing.
Testing of all asymptomatic NHS and social care staff and care home residents is being rolled out.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
“In our research released last week, Caring Behind Closed Doors, unpaid carers told us they are incredibly anxious about being able to adequately protect their loved ones during this pandemic. They want to see wider testing – of both paid and unpaid carers - to minimise the possibility of Covid-19 being brought inadvertently into their homes.
“So we are pleased the Government’s latest expansion of testing will help to cover more unpaid carers, and it’s vital that the testing is readily available for them. They deserve to know whether they, or the person they are caring for, has Covid-19 so that they can keep their family as safe as possible.
“Now, we would like to see the Government make unpaid carers – who are providing the majority of care to vulnerable people in our society - a priority group for testing.”