Further to the Government announcement in January to extend community testing,
Somerset County Council has had approval to extend regular testing for coronavirus to
people who work with vulnerable individuals or are a key part of the pandemic response but
are not covered under one of the existing government testing programmes. Broadening our
community testing to identify those showing no symptoms will mean finding positive cases
more quickly, and break chains of transmission.
Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) is to be used among target staff groups, to actively case find
asymptomatic individuals and ensure prompt public health action is taken after a positive
test, with the aim of protecting vulnerable populations from SARS CoV-2 virus, whilst also
ensuring businesses continuity of service to these populations.
The tests will be extended over the next couple of weeks for people in particular key worker
roles to be tested twice a week even if they do not have symptoms. Around 1 in 3 people
who have coronavirus have no symptoms and can be spreading it without realising it. This
testing is to reduce the risk of coronavirus to vulnerable people by identifying it in those
people who work closely with them but show no symptoms.
Somerset County Council is providing LFT for eligible workers who have face to face contact
with vulnerable groups across the community. Testing is available twice weekly for
providers who have a direct client contact or have an involvement in the Covid
response. This includes the following services:
Children’s residential staff
Domiciliary carers (non CQC registered)
Micro-providers
Informal carers
Public Health Nurses
Homeless shelter staff
Early years staff (until home testing option available)
Transport staff providing Covid services
Supported living
Covid volunteers and carers
Funeral directors
Housing officers,
Lifeline staff
Religious leaders visiting vulnerable people
If you meet these criteria and feel you are eligible for testing, please email
lftenquiries@somerset.gov.uk to get links to book your local test at the Somerset County Council LFT test centres.
