More critical workers will be able to take daily tests rather than isolate if they are pinged after coming into close contact with someone who has Covid.
The government said 1,200 extra sites would be established, with prisons, waste management and the armed forces among the sectors prioritised.
Some 800 sites are already being set up for police, firefighters, supermarket depot staff and other workers.
Several sectors have warned of staffing shortages caused by 10-day isolations.
More than 600,000 contact tracing alerts, advising people to self-isolate for up to 10 days, were sent from the NHS Covid-19 app in England and Wales in the week to 15 July.
Daily testing for some critical sectors in England was launched as an alternative to self-isolation for some workers, due to start this week. The government had said 500 sites would be set up this week.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Whether it's prison guards reporting for duty, waste collectors keeping our streets clean or workers in our energy sector keeping the lights on, critical workers have been there for us at every stage of this global pandemic.
"As we learn to live with the virus, we will keep doing everything in our power to break chains of transmission and stop this virus in its tracks."
He added: "Daily contact testing will play a vital role in this, helping minimise the potential for disruption caused by rising cases, while keeping staff protected."
When all 2,000 testing sites are opened, 800 will deal with food industry, transport and Border Force workers, as well as police and fire services.
The other 1,200 will be for people employed in prisons, waste, defence and veterinary medicine, plus the energy, pharmaceutical, telecoms, chemical, communications, water, space and fish industries.
Workers will be allowed to take the tests, rather than isolate, whether or not they are fully vaccinated.
The announcement of the scheme's extension came after the number of Covid cases reported in the UK fell to below 25,000 on Monday.
Frontline health and care staff who are fully vaccinated and identified as a close contact of someone with Covid have a separate system, allowing some to go to work, subject to strict testing rules.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak are among workers self-isolating after Health Secretary Sajid Javid tested positive last week.
From 16 August anyone in England who is fully vaccinated - and unvaccinated under-18s - will be able to take PCR tests - which are sent to a laboratory to be checked - instead of self-isolating, if pinged.
Similar rules come into force in Scotland from 9 August - and in Wales from 7 August.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiL2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLXBvbGl0aWNzLTU3OTc3Mjgy0gEzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWstcG9saXRpY3MtNTc5NzcyODIuYW1w?oc=5
2021-07-26 20:10:13Z
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