Borough launches own contact tracing

HILLINGDON Council has begun local contract tracing to boost efforts in tackling the spread of coronavirus in the borough.

As of Wednesday, November

11, the council started working with NHS Test and Trace in contacting local residents that the national system had not got in touch with.

The move comes as 100 local authorities set up local tracing partnerships with the NHS last month, to support contacting the rising numbers of people exposed to coronavirus infections.

According to Public Health England, NHS Test and Trace recorded an 113 per cent increase in the number of people who had come into contact with someone who had tested positive in the first week of October.

It also registered a 155 per cent increase in people testing positive for the virus compared to the week before.

In the new partnership with Hillingdon Council, the NHS contact tracers will pass details to the authority of residents who have tested positive for coronavirus but who they have been unable to contact.

The council’s team will then try to text, phone or email the resident to ask further details and offer them support and guidance during their self-isolation period.

In Hillingdon 628 positive cases of coronavirus were recorded in the seven days up to November 7. This is a rate of 204.6 per 100,000 of the population.

According to the council’s published data as of October 28, Hillingdon had the fourth highest weekly rate in London of 183.1 per 100,000, behind Hammersmith & Fulham, Ealing and Havering.

Hillingdon Council leader Sir Ray Puddifoot said: “Covid-19 remains deadly and rates are still high in London – so it is vital that we all do our part to stop the spread of the virus.

“I urge residents to respond if they are contacted and to adhere to the government guidance at all times. Together we can help to protect Hillingdon and our most at-risk residents.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson wearing a mask while visiting his Uxbridge constituency in July