Boots and Amazon support NHS in coronavirus testing drive

The government has drafted in help from industry, philanthropy and universities in a bid to significantly scale up testing for health workers.

Boots pharmacies started supplying volunteer healthcare clinicians as testers over the weekend and will continue its support as the testing is rolled out across the UK.

Testing will not be done at Boots stores and the tests will not be made available over the counter or for purchase online from any retailers.

Boots UK and Ireland boss Seb James said: “I am extremely proud that Boots is supporting Covid-19 testing for NHS workers. Boots has been at the heart of UK healthcare for 171 years and has always come forward to support the community in times of need.

“We will work with the NHS to recruit trained professionals – both Boots colleagues and from the wider community. I am sure there will be many trained healthcare clinicians and students who will step forward to support our dedicated NHS colleagues.

“Locations are being defined, but will be spread across the UK; they will not however be in Boots stores, allowing our colleagues to focus on supporting our customers and patients.”

Amazon is using its logistics network to help the government deliver testing kits to sites across the UK.

The etailer’s UK country manager Doug Gurr said: “We believe our role serving customers and the community during this time is a critical one, and we are committed to working closely with the government to identify ways in which we can support efforts to respond to the crisis.”

Ocado, meanwhile, has ordered 100,000 coronavirus testing kits for its staff to help keep food supplies flowing throughout the crisis.

The online grocer said it wanted to test all its staff regularly to ensure that its customers were receiving home deliveries safely.

Ocado has paid £1.5m for the testing kits, but said it would hand them over to the NHS should they be required.

“Ocado is clear that the NHS takes priority in the national effort to combat coronavirus and kits will be made available to the NHS if and where required,” the company said.

Ocado said testing its staff would ensure the business could continue “working round the clock” at a time when demand has rocketed tenfold.

“No matter how hard we work, we do not have enough capacity to serve these unprecedented levels of demand,” Ocado said.

“Our priorities are the safety and wellbeing of our customers, colleagues and the community.”