• Symptomatic staff working in a greater number of professions will now be able to access coronavirus testing
• Testing will allow those currently unable to return to work because they or a member of their family or household have symptoms of coronavirus to know whether they do have the virus
• Frontline workers now eligible for testing will include the police, the fire service, frontline benefits workers and those working with vulnerable children and adults among others
• Where there is extra testing capacity, testing will be expanded to other groups of workers that need it, including those delivering critical medical, energy, utility, transport and food supplies

Access to testing for those with symptoms of coronavirus will be extended across England to include additional frontline workers and symptomatic members of their family or household to allow the key worker to return to work.

Thanks to increased testing capacity the government is extending testing to a wider group of frontline workers in addition to patients, NHS or social care workers who need one. 

This follows the launch of the government’s partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to begin rollout of the network of new Lighthouse Labs and drive-through testing sites across the UK, with over 20 testing sites opened to date.

This network is providing thousands more polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab tests, which are used to identify if someone currently has the virus, for frontline workers. This means those who test negative for coronavirus can return to work as soon as possible to support essential services.

The government is already working with local resilience forums to get additional critical workers in their areas tested, including police officers, fire and rescue service employees, and those running the justice system.

The full list of eligible workers now includes:

• all NHS and social care staff, including hospital, community and primary care, and staff providing support to frontline NHS services (for example accommodation, catering) and voluntary workers
• police, fire and rescue services
• local authority staff, including those working with vulnerable children, adults and victims of domestic abuse, and those working with the homeless and rough sleepers
• defence, prisons and probation staff, and judiciary
• frontline benefits workers

Anyone who is eligible – has symptoms of coronavirus a high temperature or new continuous cough – and would like to be tested should speak to their employer.  The relevant employers will be provided with information on how to make an appointment with the programme either from their local resilience forum or direct from the Department of Health and Social Care. 

See the updated guidance on getting tested: Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested

Government departments, national agencies and local resilience forums can refer other critical workers in their area for testing, but this will be determined by need and testing capacity available.

Where there is extra testing capacity, we will also expand testing to other groups of workers that need it. This will include those delivering critical medical, energy, utility, transport and food supplies in both the public and private sector.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said:

“I am determined to ensure that everyone who needs a coronavirus test should be able to have access to one. Today’s expansion of testing will allow even more vital workers to return to the front line.

“We have built up capacity in the system with new testing and diagnostic facilities backed by Britain’s world-class scientists and industry partners. This means we are now able to give even more workers who support and protect us the ability to know if they have coronavirus if they have been demonstrating symptoms.

“Testing is key in our battle against coronavirus and we will continue to prioritise patients, NHS and social care workers but we now have the ability to provide more people with the certainty they need to get back to the front line when it is safe to do so.”

The government is working with local resilience forums across the country to offer tests to additional critical workers or members of their family or household with symptoms which means that they are currently isolating and unable to return to work.

The devolved administrations will operate their own eligibility criteria.

To build capacity the government is also developing mobile testing units and a home test kit that can be delivered to someone’s door so they can test themselves, and their family, without leaving the house.

This follows further increased testing capacity at Public Health England (PHE) labs and NHS hospitals, which has meant that testing is taking place both for key NHS staff and patients.

In time a new website will enable eligible individuals to book a test directly. It will be another significant step forward in the coronavirus national testing programme.

UK calls for ‘long term’ approach to prepare for future pandemics at World Bank meeting

• International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan calls for ‘long-term’ approach to tackling disease outbreaks at World Bank Meetings
• UK support to World Bank will help build more resilient economies in the developing world and support the global economic recovery
• Welcoming the landmark G20 debt relief package for developing countries, Ms Trevelyan highlighted how it will help focus spending to end the pandemic sooner

The World Bank must help developing countries build stronger economies and healthcare systems – leaving them better able to deal with future disease outbreaks and protecting the UK from new infections, International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said today (Friday, 17 April) at the Bank’s Spring Meetings.

Ms Trevelyan, the UK Governor to the Bank, warned it was also necessary to think longer-term – and with greater international co-operation – to make sure more countries are able to fight against future pandemics in order to protect the world from more deadly outbreaks.

Health experts have warned that if coronavirus is left to spread in developing countries, this could lead to a second wave of the virus in the UK later in the year, putting further pressure on our NHS.

Relieving the debt burden to tackle the pandemic

Low-income economies spend on average around 10% of their government revenues on interest payments, with many countries spending far more, such as Ghana where the figure is closer to 40% – far more than they often can spend on healthcare.

A G20 agreement this week to pause $12 billion worth of debt repayments for the poorest countries means some of this money can now be channelled towards helping them deal with the impacts of the pandemic. This will reduce the risk of a second wave of infections, including to the UK, and help manage the impact of a global economic downturn.

Statement to the World Bank

In her World Bank Governor’s statement, co-authored with Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, Ms Trevelyan called for the World Bank to help the poorest countries “build back better,” making them more resilient and better able to deal with future crises which would help protect the whole world.

She added: “The World Bank Group should ensure that any post crisis recovery builds resilience to natural disasters, climate change, threats to the environment and biodiversity; supports investment in long term and low carbon sustainable development, green jobs and green energy, and responds to other economic vulnerabilities.

“The support provided to health systems must leave a legacy of strengthened global health security so that we are better prepared for the next pandemic.”

Speaking at the World Bank Meetings, held virtually today because of the pandemic, she repeated the need to plan for the future. She spoke of the importance of getting children back into school, saying the disease was “creating an education emergency that could have devastating impacts on girls in the poorest countries of the world”.

Ms Trevelyan welcomed the $160 billion funding package agreed last month by the World Bank to help developing countries fight and recover from the pandemic and its economic impacts, also aiding the whole world economy.

On this week’s G20 debt relief package and the World Bank’s financial support she said: “No-one is safe until we are all safe. We must now all use this firepower to address the health and economic challenges ahead. We should deploy this firepower effectively, to make the tough choices and target the resources to the most vulnerable countries and people and especially, to women and girls.”

Yesterday (Thursday, April 16), the Chancellor reiterated the Government’s commitment to help the world’s poorest countries recover from the outbreak – doubling the UK’s £2.2 billion loan to the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, allowing it to expand support for low-income countries.

Notes to editors:

Protecting our site

We have reduced operations at the site to a level where we require a minimum number of people to leave their homes each day to keep Dounreay in a safe and secure state. Our over-riding priority at this time is to maintain the site in a safe and secure state and so avoid placing any additional burden on our front-line services – the NHS, the Highland Council and other resilience partnership organisations.

We recognise the primacy of NHS Highland, the Highland Council and other resilience partnership organisations who are leading the fight against coronavirus and protecting our community from harm. DSRL is committed to supporting these organisations in whatever way we can, without comprising the safety and security of the site.

Protecting the NHS

Every worker confined to home is playing a vital part in protecting the ability of the NHS to help those in need by slowing the transmission of the virus from one person to another.

DSRL support to Highland Council and NHS

We have placed all resources not considered essential to the safety and security of the site at the disposal of Highland Council and NHS Highland. This may result in DSRL asking staff with particular skills and experience to leave their homes and come to work, at the site or elsewhere, to work on projects as a paid employee.

Volunteering

DSRL has notified key workers whose continued availability to work is essential to the safety and security of the site. Key workers should not volunteer if this conflicts with their availability to work.

DSRL support to other organisations

DSRL is giving priority to requests received through Highland Council and NHS Highland. We will consider requests from other organisations that do not conflict with this or our ability to maintain the safety and security of the site.

What we have done so far

• All PPE except stocks considered essential to site safety and security made available to NHS Highland
• Equipment and member of staff provided to NHS Highland to support patient assessment centre at Caithness General Hospital
• Offer to underwrite anticipated losses by Caithness Chamber of Commerce up to £10,000 following decision to defer membership renewals
• Protective screens provided to local GP surgeries
• Donation to Wick Food Bank for purchase of freezers
• Posters produced for Caithness Voluntary Group
• Hi-visibility marshall jackets and protective screens provided to local shops
• PPE provided to Thurso branch of RNLI
• £30,000 donation to North Highland Initiative for dedicate fund to support community initiatives to support vulnerable individuals.
• Bottles delivered to local producers of hand sanitiser
• PPE provided to local undertaker
• PPE provided to Royal Mail
• PPE provided to Wick John O’Groats Airport
• Collaboration with third parties to source three welfare cabins and install at GP surgeries for segregation of patients

Managing Director Mark Rouse said:

We are committed to ensuring that Dounreay plays its part in sustaining the community during the coming weeks and months.

• Only go outside for food, health reasons or work (but only if you cannot work from home)
• If you go out, stay 2 metres (6ft) away from other people at all times
• Wash your hands as soon as you get home

Do not meet others, even friends or family.

You can spread the virus even if you don’t have symptoms.

Fraudsters are exploiting the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in order to carry out fraud and cybercrime. Police have reported an increase in coronavirus related scams.

We are issuing this alert to help charities minimise the risk of becoming a victim of such frauds and cyber-attacks.

All charities, but especially those providing services and supporting local communities during the coronavirus crisis, could be targeted by fraudsters.

Webinar about the risks of coronavirus frauds: what to watch out for and how to stay safe

The Fraud Advisory Panel and Charity Commission have pre-recorded a webinar with sector partners to help you spot COVID-19 related fraud, and better protect your charity from harm.

We are joined by fraud experts from the City of London Police and Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy who share practical advice and tips.

Scam emails (‘phishing’)

Be vigilant. Do not click on links or attachments in unexpected or suspicious emails. Never respond to unsolicited messages or phone calls that ask for your personal or financial details.

The police have already noted an increase in phishing attacks.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance about phishing attacks.

Report potential phishing messages to the NCSC through the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS).

Example of this type of fraud

Fraudsters claim to be from a legitimate organisation and able to provide information that could be of assistance to local charities, such as a list of at-risk elderly people in a local community who may require support from the charity. The victim has to click on a link to get the information. This leads to a fake website or asks the victim to make a cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin) payment.

Protect your devices

Always install the latest software and app updates to protect your devices from the latest threats.

National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) guidance on keeping devices secure.

Consider if you need to take any extra steps if you have staff working at home.

NCSC guidance on minimising the risk of cybercrime with staff working at home.

NCSC guidance about using video conferencing services securely.

Ensure that you keep people safe by protecting the personal data of staff and beneficiaries when using, or switching to, digital communications and delivery platforms.

Procurement fraud

There are a number of ways in which charities can be defrauded. Some scams involve the sale of vital personal protective equipment (PPE), such as face masks and gloves, online.

Some sellers have been fraudulent. Once the payment has been made, no products are delivered or the products do not meet required standards.

Carry out due diligence if you’re making a purchase on behalf of your charity from a company or person you do not know.

Discuss with fellow trustees, colleagues or volunteers if you’re unsure.

Action Fraud guidance about shopping safely online.

Mandate or Chief Executive Officer frauds

Always be cautious if you are asked to make changes to bank details or make payments to a new account. Wherever possible, follow your charity’s validation procedures and check the authenticity of such messages before making any payments or actioning banking changes.

Commission prevention advice for this type of fraud.

Action Fraud guidance about mandate fraud.

Example of this type of fraud

A charity employee working from home receives an email purporting to be from a legitimate company providing services for the charity. The email asks that future payments be made to an alternative bank account, which is controlled by the fraudster.

Unsolicited offers of goods, services or financial support (advanced fee fraud)

Always question unsolicited offers of goods or other financial support where an advanced fee payment is required. Just because someone knows your name and contact details, it does not mean they are genuine. Don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision that could harm your charity or your beneficiaries.

Action fraud guidance about computer software service frauds.

Reporting fraud and cybercrime

If your charity is a victim of fraud or cybercrime, aim to report it promptly to:

1. Action Fraud
2. The Charity Commission

Report potential phishing messages to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS): report@phishing.gov.uk

Read the Commission’s guidance for more information and advice about how to protect your charity from fraud and cybercrime.

Notes

The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, is issuing this alert to charities as regulatory advice under section 15(2) of the Charities Act 2011.