Petition · past parliament

Test all the front line NHS workers for COVID-19 not only the symptomatic ones

Rejected 12 signatures

What the petition asks

We need Government to provide enough of tests to check all the front line NHS workers on regular fortnightly basis in their workplaces
At the moment new testing scheme is only available to NHS workers presenting with COVID -19 symptoms. However its well known that many people will have mild symptoms or no symptoms whatsoever and still unknowingly be spreading the virus to patients and other colleagues.
That’s why it’s important to test all frontline workers so that the asymptomatic ones can be identified and isolated to stop spread of the disease.
Healthcare workers should be tested in their workplaces not remote locations difficult to get to in current transport and social distancing restrictions.
Lastly tests should be performed regularly on weekly or fortnightly basis to continuously be able to isolate the infected workers.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

You may wish to sign this petition calling for the same action: Make Covid-19 testing available for all healthcare professionals

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:

www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support

You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips

You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/

You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/

Read letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/

Timeline

31 Mar 2020 Petition opened for signatures
18 May 2020 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 12
Status Rejected
Rejected 18 May 2020

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.