Guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult day care centre workers and service users

Guidance on regular asymptomatic rapid lateral flow testing for staff and service users in eligible adult day care centres.

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For more details on testing in adult day care centres, see new COVID-19 testing in adult social care guidance.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is advising regular asymptomatic rapid lateral flow testing for adult day care centre staff and service users in England. This is to identify any positive cases in adult day care centres as early as possible to enable people to self-isolate to reduce the spread of infection and minimise outbreaks.

Staff are advised to do a daily lateral flow test (LFT) everyday they are working, before starting work. In addition, service users are advised to test up to twice a week where possible. Full guidance can be found in the guidance document.

Eligible day care centres are those that are open and run by paid day care staff. Services must be for adults over 18 and provided within non-residential care settings that support the health and wellbeing of adults. This includes settings such as:

  • purpose-built day care centres
  • day centres attached to or part of a care home or supported living
  • other buildings in communities specifically used for regular adult day care

See the coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult social care (ASC) settings page for information about each of the specific lateral flow tests, terms and conditions, and the testing privacy notice.

Published 18 February 2021
Last updated 1 April 2022 + show all updates
  1. Added information regarding new COVID-19 testing in adult social care guidance.

  2. Updated to reflect changes on self-isolation guidance.

  3. Removed information on the requirement to take a weekly PCR test and 3 lateral flow tests a week.

  4. Updated to reflect changes in asymptomatic regular testing guidance for staff.

  5. Updated to reflect removal of confirmatory PCR after a positive LFT – and updated advice on testing within 90 days of a positive result.

  6. Amended 'Testing within 90 days of a positive result' section.

  7. Updated 'Testing within 90 days of a positive result' guidance.

  8. Updated the guidance in 'Regular testing for adult day care centres in England' on what constitutes a contact and the appropriate procedures in health and social care settings.

  9. Updated to reflect changes that coronavirus test results can now be uploaded in bulk.

  10. Updated to reflect that rapid lateral flow tests are now available to adult day care centre workers and service users.

  11. Updated wording on main page to reflect current COVID-19 rules.

  12. First published.