The Automatic Vending Association has advised members that Department of Health and Social Care has recently introduced updated guidance on worker / employee coronavirus (COVID-19) testing.
If you are an essential worker who is self-isolating, you can now apply for you and your household to get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19).
Originally vending was covered as “critical personnel in the production and distribution of food, drink and essential goods, including those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery”. Key Worker testing is now being extended to anyone with symptoms who is:
- over 65
- or must leave home to go to work
- and their households
An individual can apply here: https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/
Details of how to use the portal can be found here: Covid-19 Testing Self Referral Portal – user guide
Employer referral
As an employer you can nominate a list of personnel to be tested.
The employer referral portal allows employers to refer essential workers who are self-isolating either because they or member(s) of their household have coronavirus symptoms, for testing. It is a secure portal for employers to use to upload the full list of names and contact details of self-isolating essential workers.
If referred through this portal, essential workers will receive a text message with a unique invitation code to book a test for themselves (if symptomatic) or their symptomatic household member(s) at a regional testing site.
In order to obtain a login, employers of essential workers should email portalservicedesk@dhsc.gov.uk with:
- organisation name
- nature of the organisation’s business
- region
- names (where possible) and email addresses of the 2 users who will load essential worker contact details
Once employer details have been verified, two login credentials will be issued for the employer referral portal.
https://www.the-ava.com/covid-19/
