Care home visitors no longer need to test, but staff and residents will still get free Covid tests

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has announced that all care home visitors, apart from those giving personal care, will no longer have to test for Covid and tests will continue to be free for staff and residents, according to the government’s ‘Living with Covid’ guidance.

Free testing for the public ended on 1 April but all those living and working in ‘high risk settings’ such as care home, hospices and home care organisations will still receive free lateral flow testing.

Free testing needed for visitors 'to safely visit' residents

The majority of visitors to adult social care settings including care homes will not be required to take a test according to the new guidance.

Only the 'small number of care home visitors who provide personal care', known as essential caregivers, still need to test. They will be able to get free tests but will not need to test more than twice a week.

Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said the government has "forgotten" that visitors to care homes need testing so they can "safely visit their relatives".

He said: "This must be funded by the government."

A high street chemist has revealed it will charge £17 for a pack of four lateral flow tests.

Sajid Javid: 'Learning to live with the virus'

From 1 April, the government advises the general public that if they have Covid-19 symptoms, they do not need to take a test but should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until they feel better and no longer have a high temperature.

The guidance also states 'Every care home resident should have one visitor who can visit in all circumstances (including during periods of isolation and outbreak). End-of-life visits should always be facilitated.'

The government has stated free universal testing has ‘come at a significant cost to the taxpayer’, with the testing, tracing and isolation budget costing over £15.7 billion in 2021-22.

Sajid Javid said: “Thanks to our plan to tackle Covid, we are leading the way in learning to live with the virus.

“Vaccines remain our best defence and we are now offering spring boosters to the elderly, care home residents and the most vulnerable – please come forward to protect yourself, your family, and your community.”

Covid positive hospital patients can be admitted into care homes

People will be tested before being discharged from hospital into care homes and hospices but can be admitted into care homes even if Covid positive. The guidance states: 'People who test positive prior to [hospital] discharge can be admitted to a care home, if the home is satisfied that they can be cared for safely.

'Residents who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 10 days and take part in daily lateral flow testing from day 5. They can end self-isolation after receiving two consecutive negative tests 24 hours apart, or after 10 days’ isolation.'

Staff in adult social care settings must test twice a week with lateral flow tests. After a positive case in a care home setting, staff should do daily testing for five days. Staff must take a lateral flow test when they develop symptoms and take another test 48 hours after the first test. Symptomatic staff must stay away from work, conduct lateral flow tests at home and should only come into work if both test results are negative.

From 1 April, those adult social care staff will continue to receive free personal protective equipment (PPE). Priority vaccinations and boosters for residents and staff will also continue.

Restrictions on staff movement have been removed and outbreak management periods in care homes (which includes visiting restrictions) have been reduced from 14 to 10 days.

Free symptomatic testing will be provided for hospital patients, where a PCR test is required for their care. Those at risk of serious illness from Covid and eligible for Covid treatments will be contacted and sent lateral flow tests to keep at home for use if they have symptoms.

People aged 75+, care home residents and those who are immunosuppressed are now eligible to receive a Spring booster jab to top up their immunity to Covid.