Public Health Dorset, on behalf of Dorset Council, is setting up a Dorset Community Rapid Testing Service and is inviting local businesses to register.
They are offering weekly asymptomatic testing to employees of businesses, charities and voluntary organisations (employing fewer than 250 people), and the self-employed across Dorset who cannot work from home due to the nature of their role. One in three people who have COVID-19 show no symptoms and can therefore spread it without knowing. Testing will be for a period of six weeks.
To qualify for testing your business/organisation must either provide an essential service or support the vulnerable. Examples include:
- Protecting the vulnerable: working with vulnerable people, housing support, mortuary or funeral staff, essential trades people e.g. plumbing, transport providers for vulnerable groups, sheltered housing
- Essential services: small businesses/service industry e.g. food production, retail, delivery drivers, pre-school staff, community volunteer groups, trades e.g. engineering, energy
Access to this service is for people who don’t already have access to asymptomatic testing. If you already have access to asymptomatic testing e.g. through an NHS or care home employer, you are not able to access the community service.
If your organisation / business would like to have access to the rapid testing service you must register its interest, from Monday 1 February, by completing a simple registration form.
