Moray businesses offered free on-site Covid-19 testing for asymptomatic staff members

MORAY businesses are being offered free on-site Covid-19 testing for staff without any symptoms of the virus, in-line with wider testing beginning from mid-February.

Part of a Grampian-wide programme of testing those without symptoms who may have been at increased risk of catching coronavirus, the offer will be rolled out across Moray from Monday, February 15.

Businesses can have a testing site located outdoors or inside if there is suitable space for workers to take a lateral flow test. If this returns a positive result staff will be advised to self-isolate immediately and a PCR test will be arranged to confirm the result.

Personnel testing positive will be given details of the support packages in place, including the Scottish Government's £500 self-isolation grant, and advised of the length of their isolation period.

Environmental health manager for Moray Council, Karen Sievewright, encouraged businesses to take up the opportunity in the interests of community safety.

“We are asking members of the business community within Moray to play their part in widespread testing of those without symptoms of Covid-19 in order to reduce transmission of the virus," she said.

"This will help to drive cases down and will need to be in evidence before lockdown restrictions can be eased in Moray.

“Businesses in Moray have the chance to cut the virus off at an earlier stage, potentially avoiding having multiple members of staff self-isolating."

Any organisation interested in taking up this offer should email ehadmin@moray.gov.uk with an indication of the number of staff being tested and details of where the testing site can be located by Friday, February 12.

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