Local test and trace system to be rolled out in Calderdale

It will see the borough’s own test and trace team act on data from the NHS Test and Trace system to reach contacts of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 if the national scheme has not been able to get a response from them.

Calderdale’s Director of Public Health, Deborah Harkins, said currently around a third of people contacted are not being reached by national track and tracers.

Both national and local schemes, working together, were crucial to stopping the virus spreading and reducing infections, she said.

It should not be seen as the council setting up its own test and trace system instead of the national scheme but a strengthened partnership.

“We need both – we don’t have the capacity to do it on our own. The way to bring the rate down is to test as many people as we can, identify them as quickly as we can, isolate them and contact their contacts. That is the way we are going to get this under control,” said Ms Harkins.

Ms Harkins said although the two systems would not officially be working in tandem until the end of the week or early next week. It will work by the national service providing Calderdale with the data for people who are not contacted within the first 48 hours.

The scheme will then contact those people first asking them to call the local service back, making a second call if there is still no response and ultimately the test and trace team “will come and knock on the door.”

Trusted community representatives, including health partners like GP surgeries, would form crucial support to the council team which would be a mix of paid staff and volunteers who combined had the sort of local knowledge of their area that a national scheme could not have. As well as voluntary and council staff who could provide help with languages, similar help was also being organised with private businesses.