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| England test and trace system identifies 31,000 contacts | England test and trace system identifies 31,000 contacts |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| More than 31,000 close contacts were identified during the first week of the test and trace system in England, figures show. | More than 31,000 close contacts were identified during the first week of the test and trace system in England, figures show. |
| Of those, 85% were reached in 24 hours and asked to self-isolate for 14 days. | Of those, 85% were reached in 24 hours and asked to self-isolate for 14 days. |
| This was from 8,000 people testing positive for coronavirus - two-thirds of whom provided details of their close contacts. | This was from 8,000 people testing positive for coronavirus - two-thirds of whom provided details of their close contacts. |
| Around 25,000 contact tracers were recruited in England and started work at the end of May. | Around 25,000 contact tracers were recruited in England and started work at the end of May. |
| The NHS figures, which cover 28 May to 3 June, are the first to be released showing the progress of the contact tracing scheme. | The NHS figures, which cover 28 May to 3 June, are the first to be released showing the progress of the contact tracing scheme. |
| An app designed to help trace contacts in England - and possibly other parts of the UK - has been delayed after trials were carried out on the Isle of Wight. | An app designed to help trace contacts in England - and possibly other parts of the UK - has been delayed after trials were carried out on the Isle of Wight. |
| 'More to do' | 'More to do' |
| Baroness Dido Harding, who runs NHS Test and Trace in England, said there was still "more to do to improve the speed" of the system but she said "the vast majority of people are participating and playing their part". | Baroness Dido Harding, who runs NHS Test and Trace in England, said there was still "more to do to improve the speed" of the system but she said "the vast majority of people are participating and playing their part". |
| "I want to say thank you to people for protecting themselves and their communities," she added. | "I want to say thank you to people for protecting themselves and their communities," she added. |
| The system has been unable to reach 15% of close contacts identified - 4,809 people - either because they were unavailable, their contact details were wrong or they did not respond to texts, emails or calls from contact tracers. | The system has been unable to reach 15% of close contacts identified - 4,809 people - either because they were unavailable, their contact details were wrong or they did not respond to texts, emails or calls from contact tracers. |
| Tracers are told to try calling 10 times in a 24-hour period. | Tracers are told to try calling 10 times in a 24-hour period. |
| Some who were reached did not agree to stay at home in case they developed symptoms. | Some who were reached did not agree to stay at home in case they developed symptoms. |
| But Baroness Harding said there had been "good numbers of compliance" with 26,985 contacts of positive cases identified, reached and asked to self-isolate. | But Baroness Harding said there had been "good numbers of compliance" with 26,985 contacts of positive cases identified, reached and asked to self-isolate. |
| As lockdown eases, and people start to return to work and go out to shops, it's expected the number of contacts people have will start to grow from a low starting point. | As lockdown eases, and people start to return to work and go out to shops, it's expected the number of contacts people have will start to grow from a low starting point. |
| In the first week of the test and trace scheme, contact was made with 5,407 people who tested positive for coronavirus, asking them to provide details of recent contacts. Their cases may also have been investigated as part of a local outbreak. | In the first week of the test and trace scheme, contact was made with 5,407 people who tested positive for coronavirus, asking them to provide details of recent contacts. Their cases may also have been investigated as part of a local outbreak. |
| Another 2,710 with positive tests were not reached, either because their contact details were not correct or they decided not give out information about contacts. | |
| Does this represent a good start? | Does this represent a good start? |
| The data from the test and trace system in England has been eagerly anticipated - after all, this system will be crucial in helping contain local outbreaks, enabling the country to ease out of lockdown. | The data from the test and trace system in England has been eagerly anticipated - after all, this system will be crucial in helping contain local outbreaks, enabling the country to ease out of lockdown. |
| It is still early days, but how should we interpret these findings? | It is still early days, but how should we interpret these findings? |
| Firstly, the system seems to be pretty good at reaching the contacts of people who have tested positive, if those positive cases engage with the contact tracers and provide details in the first place. | Firstly, the system seems to be pretty good at reaching the contacts of people who have tested positive, if those positive cases engage with the contact tracers and provide details in the first place. |
| The problem is a third of people who test positive are not providing details. | The problem is a third of people who test positive are not providing details. |
| This could be because the contact tracers are not as good as they should be at tracking those who do not engage with the online forms (the first point of call for the system). | This could be because the contact tracers are not as good as they should be at tracking those who do not engage with the online forms (the first point of call for the system). |
| There have been suggestions that sufficient translation support is not always available, for example. | There have been suggestions that sufficient translation support is not always available, for example. |
| But incorrect contact details being provided and people simply refusing to take calls - despite repeated attempts - are certainly factors too. | But incorrect contact details being provided and people simply refusing to take calls - despite repeated attempts - are certainly factors too. |
| The key to the success of the system will be both an efficient service and public engagement in taking calls and following the advice to self-isolate. | The key to the success of the system will be both an efficient service and public engagement in taking calls and following the advice to self-isolate. |
| What is test and trace? | What is test and trace? |
| It's a way of controlling the spread of the virus by asking people who have tested positive for coronavirus to share information on who they have been in close contact with. | It's a way of controlling the spread of the virus by asking people who have tested positive for coronavirus to share information on who they have been in close contact with. |
| It starts with getting a test if you have symptoms. | It starts with getting a test if you have symptoms. |
| If you test positive for the virus, tracers will text, email or call you and ask you to log on to the NHS Test and Trace website to provide details of contacts. | If you test positive for the virus, tracers will text, email or call you and ask you to log on to the NHS Test and Trace website to provide details of contacts. |
| Close contacts will then be contacted and told to stay at home for 14 days, even if they don't have symptoms. | Close contacts will then be contacted and told to stay at home for 14 days, even if they don't have symptoms. |
| This process is organised slightly differently around the UK. | This process is organised slightly differently around the UK. |
| What happens around the UK? | What happens around the UK? |
| In Scotland, the system is called NHS Test and Protect. Between 28 May and 7 June 2020, 741 contacts were traced from 681 positive tests for the virus - an average of 1.5 contacts per case. | In Scotland, the system is called NHS Test and Protect. Between 28 May and 7 June 2020, 741 contacts were traced from 681 positive tests for the virus - an average of 1.5 contacts per case. |
| Northern Ireland was the first part of the UK to bring in contact tracing. | Northern Ireland was the first part of the UK to bring in contact tracing. |
| Contact tracing started in Wales on 1 June and is called 'test, trace, protect'. | Contact tracing started in Wales on 1 June and is called 'test, trace, protect'. |
| Have you been contacted by a tracer? Tell us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been contacted by a tracer? Tell us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include your telephone number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include your telephone number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |