Londonderry Chamber Chief Executive Paul Clancy
The Londonderry Chamber has welcomed the further expansion to the current asymptomatic testing programme for workforces by the Department of Health and has urged North West businesses to make use of the programme.
Organisations and workforces with 10 or more employees, who cannot work from home, will now be able to access the workforce asymptomatic testing programme. Previously this scheme was only open to businesses with more than 50 members of staff.
Provision has also been made to enable small businesses or organisations with 10 or fewer employees who cannot work from home to access rapid Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests. The range of options will be expanding over the coming weeks but currently includes an LFD Collect service from Local Testing Sites and a Home Delivery service. Currently, LFD tests can be collected from Magee Ulster University between 3pm and 8pm.
Londonderry Chamber Chief Executive Paul Clancy said:
“The expansion of the workforce testing programme by the Department of Health is a very welcome step which will enable our businesses to get back to work and our economy to reopen. Extending this vital scheme down to businesses with 10 or more employees is a common sense decision which reflects the importance of small and micro businesses to the Northern Ireland economy.
“This expansion is particularly timely as we prepare to reopen our retail, hospitality, and tourism sectors post-lockdown. Even with the successful roll-out of our vaccine programme, schemes like regular rapid testing will be key in identifying and stamping out Covid cases and will play a crucial role in ensuring our businesses can remain open and trading.
“I would urge any and all eligible businesses in the North West to avail of this free scheme which will keep your staff safe and give your customers confidence as they return in the coming weeks and months.”
Further details of the programme, and information on what it means for employers, are available on the Department of Health website and NI Business Info.