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Coronavirus: How will contact tracing work in England? Coronavirus: How will contact tracing work in England?
(about 1 hour later)
People who've been in close contact with someone found to have Covid-19 in England and Scotland are now being traced by thousands of NHS staff. People who've been in close contact with someone found to have Covid-19 in England and Scotland are now being traced by thousands of health workers.
The contact tracers will ask people they get in touch with to self-isolate for a fortnight.The contact tracers will ask people they get in touch with to self-isolate for a fortnight.
The hope is that England's NHS Test and Trace system will avoid the need for national lockdowns, in favour of more local restrictions which could include schools and workplaces.
What happens if I test positive for coronavirus?What happens if I test positive for coronavirus?
The hope is that contact tracing will avoid the need for national lockdowns, with more local restrictions which could include schools and workplaces used instead.
Anyone in England with coronavirus symptoms can now get a test. If it's positive you'll be contacted by text, email or phone and asked to log on to the NHS Test and Trace website.Anyone in England with coronavirus symptoms can now get a test. If it's positive you'll be contacted by text, email or phone and asked to log on to the NHS Test and Trace website.
There you will be asked for personal information including:There you will be asked for personal information including:
Close contact means people in your household and anyone else you have been within 2m (6ft) of for more than 15 minutes. Close contacts are:
The contact must have taken place between two days before and up to seven days after symptoms appeared.
No one contacted as a result of you testing positive for coronavirus will be told your identity.No one contacted as a result of you testing positive for coronavirus will be told your identity.
A parent or guardian will need to give permission for a call with under-18s to continue.A parent or guardian will need to give permission for a call with under-18s to continue.
What about other parts of the UK?
Scotland's system is called NHS Test and Protect, with 700 contract tracers. It was launched as the easing of lockdown restrictions begins.
Contact tracing, exclusively by telephone at the moment, is already up and running in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile in Wales, plans to trace the contacts of people who receive a positive coronavirus test result will roll out from 1 June.
What if I am contacted by the tracers?What if I am contacted by the tracers?
Anyone deemed at risk of infection will be told to stay at home for 14 days.Anyone deemed at risk of infection will be told to stay at home for 14 days.
You will be asked to self-isolate, even if you do not have symptoms, to stop you from unknowingly spreading the virus.You will be asked to self-isolate, even if you do not have symptoms, to stop you from unknowingly spreading the virus.
This means that you should not leave your home for any reason. If you need food or medicine, you should order it online or by phone, or ask friends and family to drop it off on your doorstep.This means that you should not leave your home for any reason. If you need food or medicine, you should order it online or by phone, or ask friends and family to drop it off on your doorstep.
The people you live with won't have to self-isolate, unless they also develop symptoms, but they must take extra care around you regarding social distancing and hand washing.The people you live with won't have to self-isolate, unless they also develop symptoms, but they must take extra care around you regarding social distancing and hand washing.
The tracers can track down the contacts of 10,000 people every day, the government says.The tracers can track down the contacts of 10,000 people every day, the government says.
It's hoped the system - already used in places like Hong Kong, Singapore and Germany - will slow the spread of coronavirus.It's hoped the system - already used in places like Hong Kong, Singapore and Germany - will slow the spread of coronavirus.
How do I avoid scammers?How do I avoid scammers?
The NHS Test and Trace service will not ask you:The NHS Test and Trace service will not ask you:
England's Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the tracers will only be calling from 0300 013,5 000. England's Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the tracers will only be calling from 0300 0135 000.
What about other parts of the UK?
Do I have to follow the instruction to self-isolate?Do I have to follow the instruction to self-isolate?
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says he is confident the "vast majority of people" will do their "civic duty" and follow the NHS test and trace instructions. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was confident the "vast majority of people" would do their "civic duty" and follow the NHS test and trace instructions - which are currently voluntary.
At Wednesday's government daily briefing he said: "This will be voluntary at first because we trust everyone to do the right thing, but we can quickly make it mandatory if that's what it takes." Since then, the Department for Health has said that if people don't comply "we will not hesitate to introduce tougher measures, for example making visits to check they're home or issuing fines if they are found outside the house".
When will the contact-tracing app be ready?When will the contact-tracing app be ready?
A smartphone app which would automatically alert people that they've been in contact with someone with coronavirus is still being trialled on the Isle of Wight.A smartphone app which would automatically alert people that they've been in contact with someone with coronavirus is still being trialled on the Isle of Wight.
It was originally due to be rolled out nationwide in mid-May, but the government now says it will be ready ''in the coming weeks''.It was originally due to be rolled out nationwide in mid-May, but the government now says it will be ready ''in the coming weeks''.
With Bluetooth switched on, the app would work in tandem with manual tracing - and could help get hold of people who might not personally know the person who has tested positive.With Bluetooth switched on, the app would work in tandem with manual tracing - and could help get hold of people who might not personally know the person who has tested positive.
The Isle of Wight trial suggests that at the moment, because of lockdown, people have not been spending 15 minutes in the close company of many others - mainly only those they live with.The Isle of Wight trial suggests that at the moment, because of lockdown, people have not been spending 15 minutes in the close company of many others - mainly only those they live with.
How have other countries used contact tracing?How have other countries used contact tracing?
Contact tracing has been credited with helping to lift restrictions in other places:Contact tracing has been credited with helping to lift restrictions in other places: