The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued updated guidance for care home residents and workers with Covid-19 symptoms.
When a care home manager suspects for the first time that the property has Covid-19 symptoms in a resident or residents, the DHSC said, they should contact their local Public Health England Health Protection Team (HPT).
The HPT will arrange for the testing of all symptomatic residents at this point as well as providing locally tailored infection control advice.
The DHSC has meanwhile issued guidance on testing for care workers with Covid symptoms.
The department said care workers can be swabbed at regional or mobile testing centres, or by using home testing kits. Workers can self-refer through an online portal or be referred by their employer.
Users enter their details and will then receive a text or email the same day, inviting them to either book an appointment at a regional testing site, or receive a home testing kit.
Test results are usually available via text message within 48 - 72 hours.
In a related development, the DHSC is planning to roll out testing for care home residents with or without Covid symptoms at a later date.
“We are working to roll out further testing, covering all care home staff and residents, with or without COVID-19 symptoms. More information will be provided when this service is available,” it said in a statement.
