Test and Trace under fire with easing of lockdown on horizon Infection spike worries on eve of next stage of region’s reopening

ATOTAL of 131 new positive cases of Covid-19 were alerted in Birmingham in the first days of the new Test and Trace scheme, but local health chiefs have no idea where in the city those cases are, very few contacts have been traced, nor is it clear what should happen next.

In around 50 cases there is no evidence that the person newly infected has even been contacted by tracers – and among those who have, the information gathered has been minimal, with very few ‘contacts’ alerted. Just 58 contacts have been identified in total.

This week the city’s MPs and council leader Ian Ward raised the alarm in an urgent missive to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, warning that the system – hurriedly launched last week and hailed as “world beating” – is far from ready to cope with spikes in infection as the city begins to emerge from lockdown.

Next Monday will see the reopening of shops that sell non-essential goods, while zoos, safari parks and drive-in cinemas will also be allowed to open their doors.

In their hard hitting letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock, the cross party group of Birmingham MPs, led by Labour’s Liam Byrne and Conservative Andrew Mitchell, and city council leader Ian Ward reveal:

A total of 131 Birmingham based residents were confirmed as positive cases to the NHS test and trace service in the first six days since launch.

Of these, 65 used the online test and trace service to list contacts; 16 were contacted by tracers by phone

But 50 people who have tested positive have either not been contacted by phone nor provided details of contacts online - meaning no contacts have been traced. It is, says the letter, “unclear how this is being remedied.”

Between those who have been in touch, only 58 ‘contacts’ have been flagged up between them – fewer than one contact per infected person. This, say the MPs, “is concerning”.

They say: “For Test and Trace to work effectively accurate details of a person’s contacts need to be provided and given the diverse nature of our city and the high proportion of households with large families, the low ratio of contacts identified is concerning.”

Other flaws in the system highlighted in the letter include:

Local public health chiefs have no way yet of seeing detailed data, so are unable to identify spikes in infection at a local level. This could be “of immediate benefit” to help schools, which are gradually reopening to more pupils.

Public information about Test and Trace only appears in English “and hence may not be accessible to diverse groups” – this needs to be urgently addressed, they say.

Councils have still not received any cash to fund their work to create local outbreak plans. A £300 million pot of cash has been allocated to support this work nationally but has not yet been allocated.

Liam Byrne, one of the letter’s cosignatories, said: “I’ve warned for weeks now that unlocking too fast risks a double spike in the virus and a double dip recession.

“We can’t safely unlock everyone until we’ve got a system that locks down those we know are ill. That’s why we needed trace and trace in place before unlock – not after it.

“A slower unlock is a safer unlock – but a proper track and system would be safest of all.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Test and trace has begun and local councils already have plans in place to respond to COVID-19.

“To support the roll-out of test and trace, all councils have been asked to extend these existing plans into dedicated Local Outbreak Plans by the end of June. Last week we gave all councils £300 million new dedicated funding to support this.”

Professor Donna Hall, a highly respected former council chief executive now advising Birmingham City Council as a non executive director, warned: “It is feeling more like a gamble than a coherent strategy. Getting the balance right between Test and Trace and easing of lockdown restrictions is vital – yet there is real unease.

“And, not for the first time, there has been a real disconnect between national government and the regions and local councils.”

Prof Hall, who chairs the New Local Government Network, said it was frustrating to see the government had opted to centralise and outsource a vital part of the coronavirus puzzle, when it had local expertise ready and waiting.

“Not only are councils naturally placed to respond quickly to the distinct needs, challenges and infection rates of their own area, but they are equipped with their own teams of public health professionals. All they needed was the permission – and resources – from Westminster,” she said.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street quoted updated Public Health England data for the West Midlands which revealed there had been a total so far of 695 contacts ‘traced’ out of 738 notified via the scheme, as of today. That’s a hit rate of 94%, he said. “I am satisfied it is now definitely up and running. The numbers have improved, and those reported as contacts are being thoroughly followed up,” he said.

When asked if he thought it was right to ease more restrictions – including reopening places of worship for individual prayer – before the scheme was more advanced and before assessing the impact so far, he said he was “comfortable” with the pace of change.

“What is important is that we are cautious and steady. In my judgement, the guidance is clear – it’s absolutely critical that people follow the advice, wash hands, and have minimal contact with others.”

We can’t safely unlock everyone until we’ve got a system that locks down those we know are ill. Liam Byrne