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Rapid tests will be offered at workplaces with more than 50 employees in an effort to control the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lateral flow tests can produce results in less than 30 minutes, but were previously only available to companies with more than 250 employees.
Officials said the move is an effort to “standardize” workplace testing and ensure the safety of those unable to work from home.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Employers must regularly screen their staff, and this drive across government to raise awareness and encourage more companies to introduce rapid tests for employees is incredibly important.
“When you consider that around one in three people have the virus without symptoms and could potentially infect people without even knowing it, it becomes clear why it is so essential to focus testing on those without symptoms.
“We are already working with many employers to expand workforce testing, encompassing the food industry, the retail sector, the transportation network and also across the public sector.
“I strongly urge businesses and employees across the country to accept this offer of rapid tests to help stop the spread of this virus.”
Some 112 organizations have signed up to participate in the mass testing so far, and employees are tested at 500 sites, according to government figures.
But unions cautioned that rapid tests were “not the magic bullet” and called for “confirmatory tests” to be followed, citing that Public Health England found examples of asymptomatic positive cases undetected during the massive pilot test in Liverpool last year.
Dan Shears, director of health, safety and environment for the GMB union, said: “Everyone wants to make sure infectious workers stay away from the workplace, but this means getting the tests right, with confirmatory tests to avoid false negatives and, crucially, ensuring that all protective measures are fully implemented to reduce transmission. “
Labor’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth welcomed the additional testing but said workplaces also need to improve ventilation and the standard of personal protective equipment for personnel.
The Sunday Telegraph went a step further by saying that workers could also be vaccinated at workplaces once those on the nine priority lists have taken their blows.
On Saturday it was reported that 11,465,210 people have received a first dose of vaccine.
Government figures also showed that another 828 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus, up from 1,014 reported on Friday.
Another 18,262 cases were reported on Saturday.
In the meantime, doctors in England will be paid an additional £ 10 for each homebound patient they vaccinate against COVID-19, in recognition of the additional time and complexity involved in vaccinating the homebound.
The funds will also apply to vaccines already delivered to those who are homebound.
More than 1000 GP services are part of the NHS vaccination program, along with more than 250 hospital centers and almost 200 services run by street pharmacies.
It has also been reported that the government plans to tax retailers and tech companies that have done well during the pandemic.
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The Sunday Times cited leaked emails saying that the government had convened the companies to discuss the plans, which could lead to a rare “excessive income tax.”
The plans are unlikely to be ready in time for next month’s budget announcement and are instead expected in the second half of the year.
Over three nights, Sky News will host a series of special programs examining the UK’s response to the pandemic.
Watch COVID Crisis: Learning the Lessons at 8 pm on February 9, 10, and 11.
