COVID-19 testing
Updated 25 September 2020
Essential workers
Managers can refer essential workers for priority testing via the NHS Sussex Booking Hub if the staff member who needs a test is self-isolating because they or members of their household have COVID-19 symptoms.
Managers can request testing for essential workers by completing a referral form and emailing it to sxccg.covidtestingreferrals@nhs.net
The Sussex Booking Hub will contact the person being tested directly to confirm the date, time and location of the test.
At present, this option is not available via the national gov.uk website and can only be accessed through the NHS Sussex Booking Hub.
Care home workers and residents
There’s a separate testing service for care home residents or staff members. They’re still eligible for the test even if they do not currently have symptoms.
Schools
Schools are being provided with a small number of home testing kits that they can give directly to:
- parents/carers collecting a child who has developed symptoms at school
- staff who have developed symptoms at school.
Advice on how to administer the test will be included in these kits.
Find out more about testing in schools:
- PHE's COVID-19 resource pack for educational settings
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): home test kits for schools and FE providers on gov.uk
All other staff
Any other members of staff who need a test can book a free test through the NHS website or by calling 119. Demand is currently high and you are advised to book at 8pm for the best chance of securing a booking as this is when most new testing slots are released.
Test results
If you test positive for COVID-19, you must share information about anyone you've recently been in contact with via the NHS Test and Trace service to help them alert anyone who may also need to self-isolate.
Get the NHS COVID-19 app to help protect yourself and others
The new NHS COVID-19 app is now available to download.
The app is designed to alert people who may be at risk of coronavirus, asking them to isolate before they potentially pass the virus on to others. This helps to protect you and your loved ones from infection.
It also allows users to check in to venues where official NHS COVID-19 app posters are displayed.
These feature QR codes which can be scanned to help you keep a digital diary of where you've been, so that if you're contacted by contact tracers you can easily share details of any venues where there has subsequently been an outbreak of the virus.
The posters are now on display at the entrances of public-facing council buildings for use by residents, and throughout council offices for use by staff.
You can download NHS Test and Trace posters from our 'Opening our workplaces safely' toolkit (see the section titled 'Signage for council buildings')
How do I get the app?
The app is available via the App Store and Google Play.
If you have a corporate phone, you can download it from the council's own app store.
Find out more about testing, including videos on using the new NHS COVID-19 app