Today, the Government has launched the new NHS Test and Trace service across England.
Test and Trace is designed to: identify, contain and control Coronavirus; reduce the spread of the virus; and save lives.
It means that anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to share information about their recent interactions. This could include household members, people with whom they have been in direct contact, or within two metres for more than 15 minutes.
Those people identified as having been in close contact with someone who has had a positive test result must then stay at home for 14 days. They must do this even if they do not have symptoms, to prevent them spreading the virus without knowing.
People in isolation who develop symptoms can book their own test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. If they test positive, they must continue to stay at home for seven days or until their symptoms have passed.
If they test negative, they must complete the 14-day isolation period.
Members of their household will not have to stay at home unless the person identified becomes symptomatic, at which point they must also self-isolate for 14 days to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus.
A Sefton Council spokesman said: “571 Coronavirus tests were completed at the Mobile Testing site in Southport this week taking our cumulative total at Sefton Borough’s Mobile Sites to 2,490.
“Another mobile unit is scheduled to be in Litherland next week.
“The Government has said that NHS Test and Trace service, which includes 25,000 dedicated contact tracing staff working with Public Health England, will have the capacity to trace the contacts of 10,000 people who test positive for coronavirus per day. They also say Test and Trace can be scaled up if needed.
“People who are contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service will be given clear information explaining what they must do and how they can access local support if needed. Guidance is also available online at gov.uk/coronavirus.
“The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that those having to self-isolate will be eligible for statutory sick pay if they are unable to work from home.”
The Government has also today expanded the testing available for children aged under five. From tomorrow, any symptomatic individual in England will be able to access a test if they need one.
Anyone with a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a change in their sense of smell or taste is asked to immediately report these symptoms and book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus.
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