Coronavirus testing guidance for employers

The government has published detailed new guidance for employers on the regulations and legal obligations relating to running internal workplace coronavirus (COVID-19) testing programmes, i.e. those which are outside of the NHS Test and Trace service. The guidance covers:

• legislation, regulations and best practice surrounding the testing process, including compliance with the GDPR
• selecting and procuring test kits
• the difference between virus and antibody testing
• what the test results mean
• next steps after a positive or negative test, including communicating results to staff and what an employer can and cannot do with a result
• contact tracing.

The guidance emphasises that the NHS Test and Trace service is for those who are displaying symptoms of coronavirus or who have been advised to take a test by a medical practitioner or public service, so employers must not advise any staff without symptoms to get a test from the NHS Test and Trace service. However, they may offer alternative private provision in accordance with this guidance.