Kenneth Gibson MSP is encouraging organisations in North Ayrshire with ten or more employees, to sign up for asymptomatic workplace testing as part of an enhanced drive to identify emerging coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and break chains of transmission.
Free lateral flow device (LFD) tests have been made more widely available as the country emerges from lockdown restrictions and moves beyond Level 0.
The testing regime is voluntary and organisations can adopt an LFD Collect model to distribute among workers or implement their own asymptomatic test site (ATS) model in workplaces.
Workplace testing in Scotland had previously been targeted at prioritised areas of the public sector, critical national infrastructure and private businesses with higher transmission rates.
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“The vaccination programme has been a major success, however even though you are fully vaccinated it does not guarantee that you cannot catch the virus and pass it on without knowing you have it. Asymptomatic testing will remain an important tool in breaking future chains of transmission.
"As more staff continue to return to the workplace in the months ahead, workplace asymptomatic testing can play an important part in the recovery and organisations across our business, third and public sectors can contribute to this.
"I would encourage all organisations across North Ayrshire who are eligible to sign up for workplace testing and play their part in our recovery from the pandemic.”
The workplace testing offer will initially be until the end of September 2021, in line with the universal testing offer. It will include formal volunteers from third sector organisations.
Information on how to apply by visiting can be found here.
Organisations with less than 10 employees can direct their workforce to collect LFD test kits from a local pharmacy or COVID-19 test site, or order online for home delivery.
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