You may already be aware of the home test kits that are being rolled out by HMCTS in England, with kits being available in Welsh sites from mid-May.
In Wales, if you are unable to work from home you can now have lateral flow tests delivered directly to your home address and by mid-May HMCTS expects home-test kits to be available at courts or tribunal buildings.
Until then, if you have coronavirus symptoms, you can book a PCR test through GOV.UK. The PCR is a full test, rather than a rapid lateral flow device test.
For information on how to obtain a lateral flow test if you DO NOT have symptoms of Covid-19, click here.
To read more about all the testing options in Wales, click here.
Home testing will allow all court users to test themselves before attending court, meaning those who are asymptomatic but test positive can follow NHS advice and not attend court. This will help keep courts and tribunals safe by reducing the risk of exposure/transmission.
Testing will be voluntary and test kits can be collected from a designated collection point within the court or tribunal building. Full guidance is provided with the kit and will include seven tests that will enable two tests a week to be taken for a three-and-a-half week period.
It is important to note that it remains essential that anyone who gets a positive test result from a lateral flow device to self-isolate immediately, as must other members of their household, while they get a confirmatory PCR test. Positive results must be reported to any court building you may have attended. This will be particularly important with new variants and the possible need for surge testing.
You can read more on testing methods available to you in the ‘testing advice for key workers’ section, as well as other key court safety information, in the Law Society guidance and best practice for member safety in court buildings, here.
