Test and trace failing as fewer than half of contacts reached

THE NHS’S test and trace system is now reaching fewer than half of the contacts of people who have tested positive for coronavirus, analysis shows.

Statisticians said the latest official data show the reach of the system dropped to 45 per cent in the week ending July 29, compared with 51 per cent the week before.

This is despite a 17 per cent increase in positive cases, which is only partially explained by an increase in testing.

In the previous week, the system managed to interview 81.4 per cent of people who tested positive, nearly all of whom named contacts.

Of these, 75.1 per cent were reached, which gave an overall reach of just over 50 per cent.

However, for the latest week, 79.4 per cent of positive cases were interviewed, and of the contacts named only 72.4 per cent were reached, giving an overall reach of 45 per cent.

Prof Chris Bonell, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “The new figures for England are disappointing in that they are slightly less than those for the previous week. The figures for Wales are not directly

comparable but look a bit better.”

It came as Boris Johnson described test and trace as “world beating”.

Keith Neal, emeritus professor of the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said: “One persistent problem is that one in five cases, who should be at home and self-isolating, fail to be contacted by the contact tracers despite multiple attempts. These people have arranged a test and been informed of a positive result and expect to be contacted. It would be useful to have more information

on these people as to why they are not participating in control measures.

“Not being able to trace contacts is understandable but the cases could help in letting their contacts know.”

Baroness Harding, the executive chairman of NHS Test and Trace, said the system is working. “It has already helped to prevent almost a quarter of a million people unknowingly spreading the virus. But we do not work alone. Close partnerships with local government and public health teams are essential to stop the spread of the virus.”