Test and Trace not finding a third of close contacts in Sunderland

Data from the Department for Health and Social care shows 1,608 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Sunderland were transferred to the tracing system between May 28 and September 30 – generating 4,293 ‘close contacts’ – but only 67% of these people were traced.

That means 1,433 people were not contacted or did not respond – and no increase on the rate of people being traced in the period to September 23.

Test and Trace asks these patients to give details for anyone they were in close contact with in the 48 hours before their symptoms started.

The figures come as the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus in England increased by more than half in one week, with health chiefs warning "prompt action" is needed to prevent a tide of hospitalisations.

In England, 51,500 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the seven days to September 30.

That was the highest total since the Test and Trace regime was launched in May – but the figures show that only 67% (34,500) were transferred into the contact tracing system.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said the large increase in positive tests, alongside worsening test and trace performance nationally, is "worrying."

He said: “We need prompt action to prevent a full-blown second Covid surge.

"We need every member of the public to play their part – hands, face and space – as they did in the first phase of Covid.”