COVID-19 testing for pharmacy staff and management of symptoms
Published on: 18th December 2021 | Updated on: 19th April 2023
This page is now archived and will not be updated
This page contains information on how pharmacy team members can access testing for COVID-19 and action to be taken if staff have symptoms of a respiratory infection.
Pharmacy contractors should read the following UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance, which includes guidance on what pharmacy staff should do if they have symptoms of a respiratory infection:
COVID-19: managing healthcare staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection
Regular pharmacy staff testing for COVID-19
Up until 31st August 2022, it was recommended that all pharmacy staff test twice-weekly using a self-administered Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test and report their results through the GOV.UK website.
Prevalence of COVID-19 in the community has fallen and remains at a comparatively low level as we emerge from the current Omicron wave. This means that the likelihood that individuals entering healthcare settings are infectious has also reduced and the relative risk of onward transmission into these settings is lower.
As a consequence of this, on 24th August, the Government announced that regular asymptomatic testing for COVID-19 would be paused in all remaining settings from 31st August 2022.
Read the NHS England guidance following this announcement
Return to the main COVID-19 hub page
