Industry reacts as key workers to take daily Covid test to curb Omicron spread

Iceland’s boss has called on to include food retail shop workers also among key industry workers after prime minister Boris Johnon announced that critical workers will have to undertake daily lateral flow tests to help keep essential services open amid Omicron surge.

The Prime Minister said in Tuesday’s Downing Street press conference that firms are to be sent kits every working day from the start of next week. Critical workers will be able to take a test on every working day and the provision of precautionary testing will be for an initial five weeks, the government has said.

“We’ve identified 100,000 critical workers in areas from food processing, to transport to our Border Force and from January 10 we will be rolling out lateral flow testing for all these workers available on every working day,” Johnson said on Tuesday (4), adding that the government will be sending testing kits directly to these organisations.

Ruling out the possibility of another lockdown at the moment as daily Covid cases in the UK hit another record high, Johnson said the government will continue in England with its plan B counter-measures, covering mask use in shops and on public transport, a guide to work from home where possible, and some use of vaccine passports. 

Reacting to the announcement, Iceland MD Richard Walker has said that retail shop workers should also be included in the list of key workers.

“This should include food retail shop workers,” Walker tweeted.

The key workers at the moment include those who work in national infrastructure, national security, transport, food distribution and processing, Border Force, police and fire services, electricity generation and test kit warehouses and surge labs.

Meanwhile, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has slammed Johnson’s announcement saying the number of tests provided are “hopelessly inadequate” and also the government should clarify key worker’s list.

“Key workers do their vital work in teams,” General secretary Frances O’Grady said. “Surgeons and nurses need cleaners and porters. Food supply needs producers, warehouse staff, drivers, and retailers.”

“Ministers must explain who is left out, and what they should do if they can’t get tested.