NHS staff are reportedly to get twice-weekly home coronavirus tests as early as next week.

Professor Stephen Powis reportedly told the Heath Service Journal that all patient-facing staff will receive asymptomatic testing.

It is believed tests will be rolled out across 34 hospital trusts and cover “over 250,000 staff”.

Professor Powis reportedly said: “Staff will be asked to test themselves at home twice a week with results available before coming into work.”

It’s understood that the NHS staff testing regime can start after “further scientific validation of the lateral flow testing modality last week, and confirmation over the weekend from Test and Trace that they can now supply the NHS with sufficient test kits”.

The HSJ report the letter comes in response to one from health and social care committee chair Jeremy Hunt  in which he urged Professor Powis and Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, “to bring forward these plans and start weekly testing of all staff – or as a minimum all staff who have contact with patients”.