Regular coronavirus testing has launched for service critical staff at Northern Ireland’s public transport operator Translink.
Translink has received a supply of lateral flow tests as part of a national programme which will aim to increase testing across a range of sectors in Northern Ireland, including national critical infrastructure.
It is anticipated that the testing programme will be rolled out to other Translink staff following this first stage.
Around one in three people who are infected with Covid-19 have no symptoms so could be spreading the disease without knowing it.
There is hope that by broadening testing to identify those showing no symptoms, positive cases will be found more quickly and thus assist in breaking transmission chains of infection.
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Health Minister Robin Swann said: “Expansion of our asymptomatic testing programme will enable targeted testing for communities, businesses and emergency services across Northern Ireland.
“The public transport system has been vital in getting our frontline workers to their places of work throughout this pandemic. I am glad to see our testing programme extended to allow for regular testing of these key workers."
Translink Group Chief Executive Chris Conway commented: “Safety is always our first priority.
"This testing is important as an additional measure to help us ensure the safety of our staff and our passengers and to continue to safely deliver bus and train services across Northern Ireland.
"This programme of regular testing will operate alongside the range of safety measures we currently have in place, including social distancing, transmission management measures and enhanced cleaning regimes (using the latest cleaning technology and long-lasting anti-viral disinfectant) to help ensure the safety of our fleet and our staff and passengers.”
The programme is being supported by both the Department of Health and the Department for Infrastructure.
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