Coronavirus testing extended to children under five
By Rachel Lawler
Coronavirus testing has been extended to children aged under five as of today.
Health secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement during yesterday鈥檚 daily coronavirus briefing. He said: 鈥淔rom tomorrow, we are expanding eligibility for testing to include the under-fives, so that now every single person who has symptoms of coronavirus can get a test, no matter their age.鈥
The announcement is part of a wider expansion of the government鈥檚 鈥榯rack and trace鈥 system being rolled out today.
Under the voluntary programme, anyone with one or more of the symptoms of coronavirus should self-isolate immediately and book at test on the NHS website or by calling NHS 111.
Those who test positive will be contacted by the NHS test and trace service within 24 hours to establish who they have been in contact with and could have infected.
Anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive will be contacted and asked to self-isolate, even if they do not have symptoms.