More than two in five close contacts still not being reached by test and trace regime in Calderdale

Data from the Department for Health and Social care shows 5,938 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Calderdale were transferred to the Test and Trace service between May 28 and November 11.

That means 1,086 new cases were transferred in the latest seven-day period – the largest increase since the regime began.

Contact tracers ask new patients to give details for anyone they were in close contact with in the 48 hours before their symptoms started.

This led to 13,430 close contacts being identified over the period – those not managed by local health protection teams, which are dealt with through a call centre or online.

But just 55.9% of those were reached, meaning 5,919 people were not contacted or did not respond.

However, that meant there was no increase on the 55.9% reached in the period to November 4.

Across England, 58.9% of contacts not managed by local health protection teams were reached and told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace in the latest week to November 11.

Local health protection teams deal with cases linked to settings such as hospitals, schools and prisons.

The contact tracing rate including these cases was 60.5% – in line with the week before.

Around 157,000 new cases were transferred nationally in the week to November 11, the highest weekly number since NHS Test and Trace was launched.