The Government has announced that businesses can now set up their workplaces as a testing site to make it easier for people who cannot work from home to get tested at work.

St Helens Borough Council’s Public Health Team is appealing for businesses interested in taking up the offer of the testing to get in touch with the team who can support the role out.

Since December, the team has already been working with some larger businesses who have had outbreaks, to bring the quick symptom free testing to their locations to support the set up and delivery of them.

Labour Councillor Anthony Burns, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Culture and Heritage, said: “We’ve had a fantastic response so far from businesses and the public who have taken up the offer of symptom free testing, which offers results in just 30 minutes. By testing regularly it can help support businesses to reduce the risk of outbreaks by catching asymptomatic cases and isolating them quicker.  

“The businesses that have benefitted from the workplace testing have been full of praise for the support that the Public Health Team have given them in providing practical support and advice and they are here to help anyone else interested.” 

Businesses with fewer than 50 staff who cannot work from home are encouraged to use the symptom free testing sites at St Mary’s Market, Chester Lane Community Centre and Grange Valley Youth Centre. Find out more about the opening hours of these centres at www.sthelens.gov.uk/letsgettested.

To find out more about workplace testing visit www.gov.uk/get-workplace-coronavirus-tests and to contact the Public Health Team at St Helens Borough Council contact  the testing response team via email testingresponseteam@sthelens.gov.uk