Calderdale's own test and trace service at heart of Covid-19 fight

With infection levels in the district rising, Calderdale Council is turning the screw on the spread.

In August the Calderdale Local Contact Tracing Team was set up to complement NHS Test & Trace.

The local team, made up of council officers, community workers and volunteers, step in when the NHS team cannot make contact with someone who tests positive for the virus - and it’s working.

Calderdale’s director of public health Deborah Harkins said the system was proving very successful in boosting the work of NHS contact tracers.

“The local contact tracing service is about adding value to NHS Test & Trace,” she said.

“We are passed information about positive cases that the NHS has not been able to contact within 24 hours.

“The local team will text, ring or even visit and ask about who people have been in contact with and then pass that information back to the NHS.”

Ms Harkins said the vast majority of those contacted were pleased to hear from someone local and wanted to help.

The local team succeeded in contacting the “vast majority” and Ms Harkins said that was down to local knowledge.

Only a few local authorities have such local contact tracers - Bradford is the nearest - and Ms Harkins said: “We are successful through local knowledge. We ring from a Halifax number not a 0300 number and we are really friendly, local and know the community.

“We speak community languages and our team are trusted.”

The national team contact two-thirds but the local team picks up those harder to reach.

Having a local service means Calderdale benefits from more local information on the spread of the virus. As a result the source of local outbreaks can be targeted quickly.

One of the problems currently is the delay in testing. People being traced by the local team may have been tested six or seven days before meaning vital time has been lost allowing a potential spread of the virus.

“I know the Government is doing its best to sort this out,” said Ms Harkins.

There are currently drive-in or walk-in testing centres at Asda at Thrum Hall, Halifax, and mobile testing at Todmorden and Mixenden but Ms Harkins advised people not to just turn up but to book by ringing 119 or going online. Extra slots were added through the day, she said.

People should only book a test if they themselves had Covid symptoms and self-isolation was also important to break the chain of infection.

Ms Harkins revealed that the Halifax wards with the highest infection rates - Park, Warley and Town - which were between 300 and 400 per 100,000 people at the peak were now down to around 84 per 100,000.

Ms Harkins described the reduction as “significant” and praised local people for their support.

“We have listened to people,” she said. “Some say they are confused, some are tired and frustrated, some feel the rules are unfair and inconsistent.

“Overall the people of Calderdale want to do the right thing and when they understand they will do what needs to be done.”