FRONTLINE private sector workers from supermarket staff to farmers with coronavirus-like symptoms can now arrange a Covid-19 test.
In a significant expansion of testing across the north, appointments can also be arranged for family members of workers displaying symptoms.
The move to include retail, telecoms, utility and transport workers was confirmed by Health Minister Robin Swann on Wednesday evening.
The list, drawn up by the Public Health Agency (PHA), spans a wide range of workers focused around delivering key medical, energy, utility, transport and food supplies.
Funeral directors, refuse collectors, postal workers and those involved with and food supplies, food production and agriculture are all eligible for testing.
It also includes staff working in any central government department and for the Health and Safety Executive.
The list was initially circulated to supply chain stakeholders on Wednesday night by the Department of Agricutlure, Environvment and Rural Affairs, before being published 24 hours later by the PHA.
Although the Health Minister said employees seeking a test should speak to their employer, it’s understood that workers will be responsible for taking the initiative themselves.
This can be done by emailing a name and contact number to NCTP@hscni.net. Contact will then be made by Public Health Agency staff, who will seek further details and book an appointment at one of three test centres: The Odyssey car park in Belfast; the City of Derry Rugby Club in Judges Road, Derry; and Craigavon MOT Centre.
All centres are open from 10am to 4pm, seven days a week.
It’s believed that eligible people may attend a test centre without an appointment, however this may lead to delays in entry and processing as additional information will be required on arrival before a test may be carried out.
Aodhán Connolly of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said supermarkets had lobbied for the expansion.
“This is something we have asked for several weeks and shows the importance of retail staff across Northern Ireland who have been keeping shelves and home stocked since the start of this crisis.
“Delivery drivers, stock pickers, distribution centre operatives, shelves stackers and those on the tills all deserve our thanks and our praise.
“So too do the cleaners and other service staff that keep our stores working. They have all been doing an incredible job under hugely difficult circumstances.”
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