From Wednesday 16 March, the workplace lateral flow testing (LFT) programme will end. This means LFT kits will no longer be issued by businesses, instead all employees are being asked to register onto the free home testing programme to ensure they have their own supply of LFTs at home.
Regular workplace testing will still apply for staff who work in high-risk settings such as healthcare, care homes, the prison, and ambulance services. Businesses that are currently signed up to the workplace programme are being contacted directly about the changes.
The move to home testing will encourage Islanders to test themselves at least twice weekly at home before they leave for work which better mitigates the spread of the virus.
Additional reminders
Education staff and pupils continue to be expected to do an LFT daily before going to nursery, school, or college. Visitors are reminded to do an LFT before visiting high risk settings such as the hospital, GP practices, or care homes.
Anyone visiting the hospital for any reason is reminded that face masks must be worn at all times.
Islanders using patient transport services to attend health care appointments are required to take an LFT before they are collected at their place of residence.
Islanders can register to the home testing programme or reorder an LFT kit on covidsafe.gov.je. There is no need to submit negative LFT results online unless as part of the process to release early from isolation. If a positive result is received, this should be submitted online to begin the isolation period, and a PCR test should be booked immediately.
Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Richard Renouf, said: “By asking staff who are currently using the workplace testing programme to register onto the home testing programme instead, we are ensuring that Islanders check their COVID status before leaving home to go to work.
“This is part of the shift towards personal self-responsibility as we de-escalate COVID-19 measures and enter the post-emergency phase of the pandemic. Islanders can conveniently keep a box of LFTs at home to test themselves regularly when needed and ensure community infection is kept to a minimum.”
Government of Jersey News Release.