THURSDAY, 15 APRIL 2021 | CABINET OFFICE
This page explains when to wear a face covering, exemptions from wearing one, and how to make your own face covering.
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Is this page useful? Maybe TUESDAY, 13 APRIL 2021 | CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY
Information, documents and announcements related to LaunchUK, the UK's commercial spaceflight programme.
What is LaunchUK? Spaceflight is coming to the UK Our Spaceflight Programme, LaunchUK, aims to establish commercial vertical and horizontal small satellite launch from UK spaceports. This will support the government’s aim of growing the UK’s global market share of the space sector to 10% by 2030.
Government’s vision is for the UK to be at the global forefront of small satellite launch and emerging space transportation markets, capable of facilitating a range of commercial spaceflight activities, including small satellite and suborbital launch from the early 2020s.
Bringing launch to the UK will be a catalyst for growth in the wider space industry. Along with UK spaceports, industry and government are working together to develop launch vehicles and small satellite technology. These will be complemented by modern space services, such as cutting-edge test facilities. We are providing world-leading capability, bringing new markets to the UK and inspiring the next generation of British space scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs.
The UK has strong international relationships, giving us access to global markets, financing and supply chains around the world. For example, national and international space and technology companies throughout the supply chain can contribute to and benefit from the commercial opportunities offered by the UK space sector which already employs 42,000 people and generates an income of £14.8 billion each year.
Find out more about LaunchUK
From the South of England to the North of Scotland, the UK offers a range of potential launch sites capable of hosting a variety of different spaceflight activity including both horizontal and vertical launch.
How are we doing this? The government’s Spaceflight Programme brings together the UK Space Agency, Department for Transport, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Civil Aviation Authority, with support from the Health & Safety Executive.
We are putting in place a new regulatory framework to ensure a safe operating environment with the right tools to stimulate growth in the market and working with our international partners to ensure commercial spaceflight will thrive in the UK.
Growing the market So far, government has invested £40 million to grow the UK’s spaceflight capabilities and is funding a range of industry led projects including supporting vertical launches from a spaceport in Scotland and horizontal launches from Spaceport Cornwall.
Scotland is the best place in the UK to reach in-demand polar satellite orbits with vertically launched rockets. There are also a number of aerodromes around the UK, each with their own unique geography and local infrastructure, giving the UK the capability to host a variety of different types of spaceflight activity including both horizontal and vertical launch.
Government will work with any location interested in developing a commercial spaceport, and there are a number of potential launch sites the length of the country, from Newquay in Cornwall to Unst in the Shetland Isles. Wherever you are based in the UK, you are only ever a few hours from industrial centres, world class service providers, cultural centres and global logistic hubs.
Watch a UK spaceports animation
Separately, we are also investing in related facilities and technology, including £99 million for a new National Satellite Test Facility in Harwell and £60 million to develop a revolutionary hybrid air-breathing rocket engine.
The UK Space Agency and its partners across the UK government are committed to ensuring space investments build capability, advance scientific knowledge and generate strong economic return. There are a wide range of opportunities and organisations available to support space related companies in the UK, from incentives such as reduced taxes, simpler planning rules and financial benefits, to innovation funding and research grants.
The UK government sees the importance of investing resources and funding in world-class research and development (R&D) to support pioneering technology and services.
Government is committed to growing modern industrial capability across the UK, and is investing in new space facilities, technology and centres of excellence to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the ‘new commercial space age.’
For any spaceflight related queries, contact us at spaceflight@ukspaceagency.gov.uk .
Working with International Partners We are working with international partners to develop strong global relationships, ensuring we have access to markets, financing and supply chains all around the world. Furthermore, we are establishing the safeguards, protections and international agreements needed to facilitate a range of commercial spaceflight activities.
The signing of the Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) on 16 June 2020, has paved the way for US companies to operate from UK spaceports and export space launch technology, enabling the UK to access revenues and customers previously unavailable, while abiding by both countries’ commitments to non-proliferation.
Read how the new US-UK agreement will boost UK spaceport plans .
Regulating spaceflight The government is committed to enabling safe and sustainable commercial growth in the spaceflight sector through efficient and effective regulation. This means that if you wish to carry out spaceflight and associated activities, you will need to apply for a licence from the regulator.
We have already established the legal framework with the Space Industry Act 2018 - a flexible high-level regulatory framework, enabling companies to use pioneering technology while ensuring public safety and protecting the environment. This is an important step to develop an appropriate regulatory framework that supports safe, secure and sustainable launch-related operations from the UK.
In July 2020, the government launched a spaceflight consultation on the regulations for the UK’s spaceflight programme.
The regulations to support the Space Industry Act 2018 will enable a range of commercial spaceflight and associated activities to take place in the UK, including from any of the seven proposed spaceports, paving the way for the UK’s first ever space launch.
Once the secondary legislation to implement the Space Industry Act 2018 is in force, the Act will regulate the following activities carried out from the UK:
launch (space or sub-orbital) and return the procurement of a UK launch (space or sub-orbital) the operation of a satellite in orbit the operation of a spaceport the provision of range control services Currently it is only possible to apply for a satellite operator licence under the Outer Space Act 1986. However, once the Space Industry Act 2018 and the associated secondary legislation are in force, it will also be possible to apply for licences relating to launch from the UK.
Find out more information on applying for a satellite operator licence , including what to expect from the licensing process and the obligations of licensees.
Find out more information about applying for a launch and return, spaceport or range control licence in the future.
Published 4 November 2014
Last updated 13 April 2021
+ show all updates 13 April 2021 Decisions O/251/21 and O/252/21 added.
12 April 2021 Decision O/249/21 and O/250/21 and Signed orders 12242711, 12493556, 11866619, 12400895 and 12348441 added.
9 April 2021 Decisions O/245/21, O/246/21 and O/248/21 added.
9 April 2021 Decisions O/223/21, O224/21, O/225/21, O/228/21, O/229/21, O/230/21, O/240/21, O/241/21, O/242/21 and O/244/21 added.
6 April 2021 Decisions O/217/21, O/218/21 and O/220/21 added.
1 April 2021 Decisions O/189/21, O/190/21, O/192/21, O/195/21, O/204/21, O/207/21, O/208/21 and O/210/21 and Signed orders SC645157, 12044839, 12362930, 10978
TUESDAY, 13 APRIL 2021 | COMPANY NAMES TRIBUNAL
Decision for applicant BMO Asset Management Limited against registration number 12727331 applicant successful.
Details Application number 3291 Applicant BMO Asset Management Limited objected to the name used by BMO UK Ltd under the Companies Act 2006.
This decision was undefended. ‘Undefended’ refers to decisions where there has been no defence in response to the application to the Company Names Tribunal.
Published 13 April 2021
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TUESDAY, 13 APRIL 2021 | COMPANY NAMES TRIBUNAL
Decision for applicant Universal International Music B.V. against registration number 10386930 applicant successful.
Details Application number 3290 Applicant Universal International Music B.V. objected to the name used by Casablanca Record And Filmworks Limited under the Companies Act 2006.
This decision was undefended. ‘Undefended’ refers to decisions where there has been no defence in response to the application to the Company Names Tribunal.
Published 13 April 2021
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Published 17 April 2020
Last updated 15 April 2021
+ show all updates 15 April 2021 Updated 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information' and the 'quick read' version to reflect that your data may be used to enable entry to a live event, and for subsequent research regarding the COVID-19 infection status of those who participated in the live event.
23 March 2021 Updated 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information – quick read' and 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information' to add information on care partners and visitors to 'Annex 1: care home testing'. Deleted laboratories (12, 14 and 15) from 'Annex 8: list of data processors' of 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information' and Lab 13 relabelled Lab 12.
4 March 2021 Updates to self-testing and reporting, lateral flow testing and daily contact testing.
23 February 2021 Updated 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information’ and the ‘quick read’ version to reflect changes to data capturing to more effectively identify coronavirus test samples that should be sent for genomic sequencing.
18 February 2021 Updated 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information' and the 'quick read' version to reflect changes in self-testing, international arrivals and additional data processors.
5 February 2021 Updated 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information – quick read' and 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information' to reflect changes to police and isolation and self-testing and reporting. Added new laboratories (13 to 15) to 'Annex 6: list of data processors' of 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information'.
22 January 2021 In 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information', added Office of National Statistics (ONS) to the list of data processors.
20 January 2021 In 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information – quick read' and 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information', under 'What personal data we collect', added: 'recent travel history (for example, whether you travelled overseas in the last 14 days and the country you spent most time in)'. Added new laboratories (5 to 12) and Royal Mail to 'Annex 6: list of data processors' of 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information'.
11 January 2021 Updated 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information – quick read' and 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information' to reflect that we collect data on your NHS login account identifier if you access our services using your NHS login details.
5 January 2021 Updated 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information – quick read' and 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information'. In both documents, under 'What personal data we collect', added: 'vaccination status'; under 'Purposes your data will be used for', added: 'sharing your vaccination status with Public Health England (if you live in England) to understand the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including their effectiveness against different strains of the COVID-19 virus, and, where appropriate, to ask you to do a repeat test and/or an antibody test'.
15 December 2020 Updated 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information – quick read' and 'Testing for coronavirus: privacy information' to clarify the data registered when self-reporting.
11 December 2020 Updated 'Testing for cor
THURSDAY, 15 APRIL 2021 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
How you can get informal childcare for anyone under 14 from friends and family you do not live with.
What a childcare bubble is If you live in a household with anyone aged under 14, you can form a childcare bubble. This allows friends or family from one other household to provide informal childcare. ‘Informal’ childcare means it is unregistered.
You can only form a childcare bubble if you meet certain eligibility rules. Not everyone can form a childcare bubble.
Childcare bubbles are different from support bubbles .
If you form a childcare bubble, members of either household can provide childcare in a home or public place. Overnight stays are allowed where necessary for childcare purposes.
You can only use a childcare bubble for childcare. You cannot use a childcare bubble to mix with another household for any other reason. This means you cannot use a childcare bubble to meet socially with another household.
If providing informal childcare within a childcare bubble, you should follow the guidance on how to stop the spread of coronavirus , including washing your hands and opening windows to let in plenty of fresh air.
When providing childcare, it may not always be possible to maintain social distancing. You should still limit close contact as much as possible and take other precautions.
You should follow the guidance on how to stop the spread of coronavirus even if you feel well.
Who can make a childcare bubble Not everybody can form a childcare bubble. It is against the law to form a childcare bubble if you are not eligible.
To form a childcare bubble, you must live in a household with a child under 14.
You can only have one childcare bubble with one other household at a time. This means no household can be part of more than one childcare bubble. For example, you cannot form a childcare bubble with multiple grandparents who do not live together.
All members of both households must agree to the childcare bubble arrangement. Children who live with a parent or someone with parental responsibility are not required to agree to the childcare bubble arrangement.
If you do form a childcare bubble, it’s best if this is with a household that lives locally. This will help prevent the virus spreading from an area where more people are infected.
How childcare bubbles relate to support bubbles A childcare bubble is different from a support bubble . A support bubble allows you to have close contact with another household, including for socialising.
Being in a childcare bubble does not stop you from forming a support bubble if you are eligible. Your support and childcare bubble do not have to be with the same household.
You should avoid seeing members of your childcare and support bubbles at the same time, to limit the risk of spreading coronavirus.
There are no other types of bubble.
Changing a childcare bubble Where possible, you should avoid changing your childcare bubble. This will help prevent spreading the virus between households.
You may change your childcare bubble if necessary – for example, if your circumstances or those of your existing childcare bubble change. You may change your childcare bubble provided that:
If you decide to change your childcare bubble, you should stop receiving or providing childcare for a minimum of 10 days from the last contact with members of the bubble. After the 10 days have passed, you can form a new childcare bubble.
If someone in your previous childcare bubble develops symptoms or tests positive for coronavirus up to 2 days after members of the bubble last met, all members of the bubble should self-isolate for 10 days . You must not form a new bubble until you have completed your self-isolation, to prevent spreading coronavirus to others.
Children turning 14 The childcare bubble only continues while there is anyone aged under 14 within that bubble. A childcare bubble cannot be formed or continue if the only children in the bubble are aged 14 or over.
Once everyone in a household is aged 14 or above, the childcare bubble arrangement must stop.
If your child lives in more than one location If you share custody of a child with someone you do not live with, the child can move freely between both parents’ households.
You do not need to form a support bubble or childcare bubble to do this.
Each parent can separately form a support bubble and/or a childcare bubble with another household if eligible.
You can mix indoors where reasonably necessary with the other parent to allow your child to move between homes.
Rapid lateral flow tests for bubbles of school pupils and staff If someone in your household, childcare or support bubble is a pupil, student or member of staff at a school, nursery or college, or related occupation (such as a childminder or wraparound childcare provider) you may be eligible for rapid lateral flow testing.
See the guidance on rapid lateral flow testing for households and bubbles of school pupils and staff .
If you or someone in your childcare bubble develop coronavirus symptoms or test positive If you develop coronavirus symptoms If you develop symptoms, stay at home and get a test .
You should follow the stay at home guidance . Anyone who lives in your household should also follow the stay at home guidance.
If you develop symptoms, you should alert the members of your bubble or anyone else with whom you have had close contact over the last 2 days. You should tell them that you might have coronavirus but are waiting for a test result.
At this stage (until the test result is known), those people should reduce social contacts and take extra care in practising social distancing and good hygiene, like washing their hands regularly. They should also watch out for their own symptoms. If they develop symptoms, they should follow the stay at home guidance .
If you test positive for coronavirus If you get a positive test, NHS Test and Trace will contact you and ask you to share information about any close contacts you had just before or after you developed symptoms. You should include the members of your childcare bubble if you had close contact with them during this period.
This is vital to stop the spread of the virus.
If someone else in your bubble develops coronavirus symptoms or tests positive for coronavirus If someone else in your household develops coronavirus symptoms or tests positive for coronavirus, you should follow the stay at home guidance .
If someone in your childcare bubble who you do not live with develops symptoms or tests positive for coronavirus, you should follow the instructions of NHS Test and Trace . If NHS Test and Trace tell you that you are a contact of someone who has tested positive, you must follow their instructions and self-isolate.
There is further THURSDAY, 15 APRIL 2021 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
How ‘surge testing’ and genomic sequencing is being used in locations in England where COVID-19 variants have been identified.
What surge testing is Surge testing is increased testing (including door-to-door testing in some areas) and enhanced contact tracing in specific locations in England.
It involves testing of people who do not have any symptoms of coronavirus.
Surge testing started on Monday 1 February.
Genomic sequencing means analysing the virus sample to understand how it compares with other cases.
Why the government is using surge testing Extensive surveillance of coronavirus has identified a number of cases of COVID-19 variants and mutations of concern in England.
The government is using surge testing and genomic sequencing to:
Read more about surge testing being deployed in England to monitor and suppress the spread of the COVID-19 variant .
Locations using surge testing Surge testing is currently being carried out in specific and targeted locations within the following local authority areas:
London London Borough of Barnet (specific areas within N3 postcode) London Borough of Harrow, South Harrow (specific areas within HA2 postcode) London Borough of Hillingdon (specific areas within UB3 postcode) London Borough of Lambeth (borough wide) London Borough of Southwark (specific area within SE16 postcode) London Borough of Wandsworth (borough wide) The list is updated regularly.
If your local authority is carrying out surge testing, you can visit your local authority website to find out exactly where testing is being targeted.
Locations that have completed surge testing The following areas have completed initial surge testing operations:
Birmingham City Council (specific areas in and near to the B31 postcode) Bolton Council (area of Wingates Industrial Estate within BL5 postcode) Bristol City Council (specific areas in the following postcodes: BS1, BS2, BS3, BS4, BS5, BS6, BS8, BS9, BS14 and BS16) Buckinghamshire Council (specific areas in the HP10 postcode) Essex County Council (CM13 postcode area) Hampshire County Council (specific areas in the RG26 postcode) Hertfordshire County Council (EN10) Kent County Council (ME15) Leeds City Council (specific areas within the LS8 and LS9 postcodes) London Borough of Barnet (specific areas within N2, N10 and NW4) London Borough of Brent (specific areas within North Wembley) London Borough of Croydon (specific areas within the CR0 postcode, and specific areas within South Norwood and Thornton Heath) London Borough of Ealing (specific areas in and near to the W7 postcode)* London Borough of Haringey (N17 and specific areas within N10 and N11) London Borough of Harrow, North Harrow and Wealdstone (specific areas within the HA2 and HA3 postcodes) London Borough of Lambeth (specific areas in the SW8, SW9, SE27 and SW16 postcodes) London Borough of Merton (Pollards Hill and Wimbledon Park area) London Borough of Redbridge (Loxford and Clementswood wards) London Borough of Southwark (specific area within the SE5 postcode) London Borough of Wandsworth (specific areas within the SW11 and SW15 postcodes) Manchester City Council (specific areas in the M9, M14, M15, M16 and M40 postcodes) Metropolitan Borough of Sefton (Norwood, Dukes and Cambridge wards) Middlesbrough Council (specific areas in the TS7 and TS8 postcodes) Norfolk County Council (specific areas in IP22) Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (specific areas within the DY4 7, DY4 8 and B69 2 postcodes) Southampton City Council (specific areas in the SO15 postcode) South Gloucestershire Council (within the following postcodes: BS32 0, BS32 8, BS32 9, BS34 5, BS34 6 and specific areas in the following postcodes: BS16 and BS37) Staffordshire County Council (Stafford District) Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (specific areas within TS19) Surrey County Council (GU21, GU22 and TW20) Walsall Council (specific areas in and near to the WS2 postcode and Pleck ward) Worcestershire County Council (specific areas in and near to the WR3 postcode) *Additional testing and genomic sequencing was deployed more widely within the London Borough of Ealing, where a small number of additional cases of the COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa have been found.
Further data on surge testing will be provided in due course.
Who should get a test You should get a test for coronavirus if you:
You should get a test even if:
you have no symptoms of coronavirus
you’ve had a vaccination for coronavirus
you’ve tested positive for coronavirus previously (but not within the last 90 days)
If you’ve recently spent time within one of the areas targeted for surge testing but do not live there, you should continue to follow the national restrictions and check with your local authority whether you should get a test.
Who should not get a test If you have tested positive within the last 90 days, you do not need to be tested.
How to get a test Local authorities in the postcode areas on this page are providing PCR testing to people without symptoms through extra:
home testing kits
mobile testing sites
Visit your local authority website to find out more.
What happens after your test If you test positive with a PCR test, your test will be sent to a laboratory for genomic sequencing.
You must isolate with your household and follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus infections . Public Health England will carry out enhanced tracing of close contacts of confirmed cases of the variant.
There is currently no evidence that variants cause more severe illness.
Positive PCR tests from institutions within these specific locations, such as care homes, will also be sent for genomic sequencing.
If you have coronavirus symptoms If you have coronavirus symptoms, it is important that you get a test for people with symptoms online, via the NHS COVID-19 app or by calling 119.
You must isolate with your household and follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus infections until you get your result.
Continue to follow national lockdown rules If you live within one of the postcode areas on this page, the same national restrictions still apply.
You should continue to work from home.
You should also practise ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’.
If you live in an area deploying surge testing you should get tested.
Published 10 February 2021
Last updated 15 April 2021
+ show all updates THURSDAY, 15 APRIL 2021 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Experimental statistics on NHS Test and Trace since its launch on 28 May 2020. Includes reports on NHS Test and Trace (people tested and contact tracing) and rapid (lateral flow device) testing for people without symptoms.
Details The data reflects the NHS Test and Trace operation in England since its launch on 28 May 2020.
This includes 2 weekly reports:
1. NHS Test and Trace statistics:
people tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) time taken for test results to become available people transferred to the contact tracing system and the time taken for them to be reached close contacts identified for cases managed and not managed by local health protection teams (HPTs), and time taken for them to be reached 2. Rapid asymptomatic testing statistics:
number of lateral flow device (LFD) tests conducted by test result There are 4 sets of data tables accompanying the reports.
Published 15 April 2021
THURSDAY, 15 APRIL 2021 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Experimental statistics on NHS Test and Trace since its launch on 28 May 2020. Includes reports on NHS Test and Trace (people tested and contact tracing) and rapid (lateral flow device) testing for people without symptoms.
Details The data reflects the NHS Test and Trace operation in England since its launch on 28 May 2020.
This includes 2 weekly reports:
1. NHS Test and Trace statistics:
people tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) time taken for test results to become available people transferred to the contact tracing system and the time taken for them to be reached close contacts identified for cases managed and not managed by local health protection teams (HPTs), and time taken for them to be reached 2. Rapid asymptomatic testing statistics:
number of lateral flow device (LFD) tests conducted by test result There are 4 sets of data tables accompanying the reports.
Published 15 April 2021
THURSDAY, 15 APRIL 2021 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
How the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) puts together the contact-tracing data in its weekly reports.
Details DHSC publishes weekly statistics on coronavirus (COVID-19) contact tracing dating from when the NHS Test and Trace service started on 28 May 2020.
These statistics cover:
number of people tested for coronavirus in England number of people who tested positive for coronavirus in England time taken for test results to become available in England distance to take a test in-person in England number of people testing positive for coronavirus in England that were then transferred to the contact-tracing system, and the time taken for them to be reached number of recent close contacts identified, and the time taken for them to be reached number of people starting their quarantine at home or in a managed quarantine hotel number of LFD and pillar 2 tests conducted in England This document sets out information on the data sources and methodology are used to generate each of these measures. It will keep being updated with further detail.
Published 18 June 2020
Last updated 15 April 2021
+ show all updates 15 April 2021 Updated to include information on the change to Northamptonshire LTLA and UTLA; improvement to the methodology for the number of PCR and LFD tests conducted.
8 April 2021 Updated to reflect the operational change implemented on 30 March 2021 for confirmatory PCR testing following a positive lateral flow test.
1 April 2021 Updated to include information on care home tests by staff, resident, visitors and visiting professionals.
25 March 2021 Updated to add in new methodology for the managed quarantine service data and further detail for rapid testing in schools.
18 March 2021 Updated to include information on tests conducted in care homes and additional information on testing in schools.
11 March 2021 Updated with information regarding the removal of the breakdown on cases and contacts reached by route from the weekly statistics.
4 March 2021 Updated to include information on lateral flow testing for households and bubbles of school staff and students. Information for contact tracing in areas where there are known variants of concern has also been included.
25 February 2021 Updated to include information on the number of lateral flow device (LFD) tests conducted in education settings.
18 February 2021 Updated to remove methodology information on the NHS Test and Trace app and UK testing as these statistics are no longer published as part of the NHS Test and Trace weekly publication.
11 February 2021 Updated to include information on additional contact tracing statistics for time taken to reach contacts from the case taking a test, and time taken to reach contacts from the case developing symptoms. Also included information on tests conducted as part of the rapid asymptomatic testing publication.
28 January 2021 Updated in line with new contact tracing policy.
21 January 2021 Updated the the section on 'number of recent close contacts identified' with information about counting of contacts identified by multiple people testing positive.
14 January 2021 Added information about how cases and contacts are reached.
7 January 2021 Updated to reflect changes in the reporting of positivity rates and lateral flow tests.
31 December 2020 Updated to add clarity on number of contacts who were reached by the phone or online.
17 December 2020 Updated to reflect that UK testing is no longer included in the publication.
10 December 2020 Updated to include additional information on new LFD and PCR test conducted breakdowns.
THURSDAY, 15 APRIL 2021 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Findings from technical validations and in-service valuations reviewed by the Technical Validation Group.
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THURSDAY, 15 APRIL 2021 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Lists of and information about approved suppliers of private testing kits for coronavirus (COVID-19).
Details The Department of Health and Social Care is aware of the private-sector (non-NHS) providers published on this page who have declared that they meet the government’s minimum standards for:
domestic COVID-19 testing Test to Release for international travel Both lists of providers are updated daily, from Monday to Friday.
Published 14 December 2020
Last updated 15 April 2021
+ show all updates 15 April 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
14 April 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
13 April 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
12 April 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
8 April 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
7 April 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
6 April 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
1 April 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
31 March 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
29 March 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
26 March 2021 Updated both lists of providers
25 March 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
24 March 2021 Updated both lists of providers
23 March 2021 Updated both lists of providers
22 March 2021 Added updated CSV files for Covid private testing providers test to release and Covid private testing providers general testing.
19 March 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
18 March 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
17 March 2021 Updated both lists of providers.
16 March 2021
WEDNESDAY, 14 APRIL 2021 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
How ‘surge testing’ and genomic sequencing is being used in locations in England where COVID-19 variants have been identified.
What surge testing is Surge testing is increased testing (including door-to-door testing in some areas) and enhanced contact tracing in specific locations in England.
It involves testing of people who do not have any symptoms of coronavirus.
Surge testing started on Monday 1 February.
Genomic sequencing means analysing the virus sample to understand how it compares with other cases.
Why the government is using surge testing Extensive surveillance of coronavirus has identified a number of cases of COVID-19 variants and mutations of concern in England.
The government is using surge testing and genomic sequencing to:
Read more about surge testing being deployed in England to monitor and suppress the spread of the COVID-19 variant .
Locations using surge testing Surge testing is currently being carried out in specific and targeted locations within the following local authority areas:
London London Borough of Harrow, South Harrow (specific areas within the HA2 postcode) London Borough of Hillingdon (specific areas within UB3 postcode) London Borough of Lambeth (borough wide) London Borough of Southwark (specific area within SE16 postcode) London Borough of Wandsworth (borough wide) North West Bolton Council (area of Wingates Industrial Estate within the BL5 postcode) The list is updated regularly.
If your local authority is carrying out surge testing, you can visit your local authority website to find out exactly where testing is being targeted.
Locations that have completed surge testing The following areas have completed initial surge testing operations:
Birmingham City Council (specific areas in and near to the B31 postcode) Bristol City Council (specific areas in the following postcodes: BS1, BS2, BS3, BS4, BS5, BS6, BS8, BS9, BS14 and BS16) Buckinghamshire Council (specific areas in the HP10 postcode) Essex County Council (CM13 postcode area) Hampshire County Council (specific areas in the RG26 postcode) Hertfordshire County Council (EN10) Kent County Council (ME15) Leeds City Council (specific areas within the LS8 and LS9 postcodes) London Borough of Barnet (specific areas within N2, N10 and NW4) London Borough of Brent (specific areas within North Wembley) London Borough of Croydon (specific areas within the CR0 postcode, and specific areas within South Norwood and Thornton Heath) London Borough of Ealing (specific areas in and near to the W7 postcode)* London Borough of Haringey (N17 and specific areas within N10 and N11) London Borough of Harrow, North Harrow and Wealdstone (specific areas within the HA2 and HA3 postcodes) London Borough of Lambeth (specific areas in the SW8, SW9, SE27 and SW16 postcodes) London Borough of Merton (Pollards Hill and Wimbledon Park area) London Borough of Redbridge (Loxford and Clementswood wards) London Borough of Southwark (specific area within the SE5 postcode) London Borough of Wandsworth (specific areas within the SW11 and SW15 postcodes) Manchester City Council (specific areas in the M9, M14, M15, M16 and M40 postcodes) Metropolitan Borough of Sefton (Norwood, Dukes and Cambridge wards) Middlesbrough Council (specific areas in the TS7 and TS8 postcodes) Norfolk County Council (specific areas in IP22) Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (specific areas within the DY4 7, DY4 8 and B69 2 postcodes) Southampton City Council (specific areas in the SO15 postcode) South Gloucestershire Council (within the following postcodes: BS32 0, BS32 8, BS32 9, BS34 5, BS34 6 and specific areas in the following postcodes: BS16 and BS37) Staffordshire County Council (Stafford District) Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (specific areas within TS19) Surrey County Council (GU21, GU22 and TW20) Walsall Council (specific areas in and near to the WS2 postcode and Pleck ward) Worcestershire County Council (specific areas in and near to the WR3 postcode) *Additional testing and genomic sequencing was deployed more widely within the London Borough of Ealing, where a small number of additional cases of the COVID-19 variant first identified in South Africa have been found.
Further data on surge testing will be provided in due course.
Who should get a test You should get a test for coronavirus if you:
You should get a test even if:
you have no symptoms of coronavirus
you’ve had a vaccination for coronavirus
you’ve tested positive for coronavirus previously (but not within the last 90 days)
If you’ve recently spent time within one of the areas targeted for surge testing but do not live there, you should continue to follow the national restrictions and check with your local authority whether you should get a test.
Who should not get a test If you have tested positive within the last 90 days, you do not need to be tested.
How to get a test Local authorities in the postcode areas on this page are providing PCR testing to people without symptoms through extra:
home testing kits
mobile testing sites
Visit your local authority website to find out more.
What happens after your test If you test positive with a PCR test, your test will be sent to a laboratory for genomic sequencing.
You must isolate with your household and follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus infections . Public Health England will carry out enhanced tracing of close contacts of confirmed cases of the variant.
There is currently no evidence that variants cause more severe illness.
Positive PCR tests from institutions within these specific locations, such as care homes, will also be sent for genomic sequencing.
If you have coronavirus symptoms If you have coronavirus symptoms, it is important that you get a test for people with symptoms online, via the NHS COVID-19 app or by calling 119.
You must isolate with your household and follow the guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus infections until you get your result.
Continue to follow national lockdown rules If you live within one of the postcode areas on this page, the same national restrictions still apply.
You should continue to work from home.
You should also practise ‘hands, face, space, fresh air’.
If you live in an area deploying surge testing you should get tested.
Published 10 February 2021
Last updated 14 April 2021
+ show all updates WEDNESDAY, 14 APRIL 2021 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Additional testing will take place in N3 in Finchley, Barnet, where a confirmed case of the variant first identified in South Africa has been found.
Working in partnership with the local authority, NHS Test and Trace is providing additional testing and genomic sequencing in a targeted area within N3 in Finchley, Barnet, where a confirmed case of the variant first identified in South Africa has been found. Genomic sequencing results indicate that this case is not linked to the cluster identified in South London.
Everybody aged 16 years and over in this area who is contacted and invited to take part is strongly encouraged to take a COVID-19 PCR test, whether they are showing symptoms or not.
Enhanced contact tracing will be used for individuals testing positive with a variant of concern. This is where contact tracers look back over an extended period in order to determine the route of transmission. The confirmed case is self-isolating and their contacts have been identified.
By using PCR testing, positive results can be sent for genomic sequencing at specialist laboratories, helping us to identify variant of concern cases and their spread.
People with symptoms should book a free test online or by phone so they can get tested at a testing site or have a testing kit sent to them at home. Those without symptoms should visit the local authority website for more information.
People in this area should continue using twice-week
Ministerial Departmental News
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