The Government's priority is to test patients to inform their clinical diagnosis. As part of the government’s 5-pillar strategy for coronavirus testing, it is testing people who have coronavirus-like symptoms to see if they currently have the virus.
The Government is also testing:
- all essential workers including NHS and social care workers with symptoms (see the full list of essential workers)
- anyone over 65 with symptoms
- anyone with symptoms whose work cannot be done from home (for example, construction workers, shop workers, emergency plumbers and delivery drivers)
- social care workers and residents in care homes (with or without symptoms) both to investigate outbreaks and, following successful pilots, as part of a rolling programme to test all care homes
- NHS workers and patients without symptoms where there is a clinical need, in line with NHS England guidance
- anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus that lives with those identified above.
You can apply for a test directly if you are in one of the groups above.
Go to https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk to apply for a test.
