Care home residents and staff in England with no Covid symptoms no longer have to test

Regular asymptomatic Covid testing of staff and residents in care homes in England ceases from 31 August, as cases of the virus continue to fall.

Staff, residents and patients in care homes, hospitals, hospices, prisons, domestic abuse refuges and homeless hostels who show Covid symptoms will still have to test as will immunocompromised patients in hospitals and people being admitted into care homes and hospices.

Testing will also be available if there are Covid outbreaks in care homes.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Thanks to the success of our world-leading vaccination roll-out, we are able to continue living with Covid and, from 31 August, we will pause routine asymptomatic testing in most high-risk settings.

“This reflects the fact case rates have fallen and the risk of transmission has reduced, though we will continue to closely monitor the situation and work with sectors to resume testing should it be needed. Those being admitted into care homes will continue to be tested.”

He added: “Our upcoming autumn booster programme will offer jabs to protect those at greatest risk from severe Covid, and I urge everyone who is eligible to take up the offer.”

In the last seven days, Covid cases in England have fallen to 40,027, deaths have fallen to 744 and hospitalisations to 6,005.

Asymptomatic testing of staff and patients or residents will cease in care homes and hospices (apart from new admissions), the NHS (including independent health care providers treating NHS patients), some prisons and detention centres and certain domestic abuse refuges and homelessness settings.

The Relatives and Residents Association voiced concern over the ending of asymptomatic testing, with its director Helen Wildbore saying: “This policy has been rushed through with no consultation and without sharing the data on whether asymptomatic testing is helping to keep people in care safe.

“This could lead to Covid cases being undetected, and staff inadvertently putting residents and their colleagues at risk. It could also lead to more severe outbreaks in care settings, which would be more difficult to bring under control, resulting in longer lockdown periods.”

She also called it “baffling” that the government has chosen to halt this testing whilst keeping in place universal rules on wearing face masks in care settings.

“Our helpline hears how masks continue to cause distress to people with dementia, hinder communication for older people with hearing loss and make their home feel like an institution.”

Autumn boosters will be available to book through the National Booking Service ahead of the wider rollout, due to start on 12 September. The NHS will contact people when it is their turn.

Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser to the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Covid case rates and hospitalisations are on the decline, demonstrating the positive impact of the vaccines, which remain our best form of defence. The data from our surveillance shows prevalence is low and decreasing, and we will continue to monitor this data closely.

“If you are invited to receive a booster jab in the autumn, or if you have not yet had a Covid vaccine, please do take up the offer to protect yourself and those around you.”