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

Data from the Department for Health and Social care shows 11,722 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Sheffield were transferred to the Test and Trace service between May 28 and October 21.

That means 2,771 new cases were transferred in the latest seven-day period.

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 29,123 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 57 per cent of those were reached, meaning 12,517 people were not contacted or did not respond.

That was slightly up from the 56.8 per cent reached in the period to October 14.

Across England, 58.1 per cent 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 October 21.

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

The contact tracing rate including these cases was 60.3 per cent – up slightly from the week before, when it was at a record low.

Around 120,000 new cases were transferred nationally in the week to October 21.

These figures came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a second national lockdown for England in a bid to fight the second wave of coronavirus.

As part of the month-long lockdown, non-essential shops and hospitality businesses will have to close for a month. But unlike the shutdown earlier this year, schools, colleges and universities will be allowed to stay open.

Under the new restrictions, the only permitted reasons for leaving home will be: for education, for work (if you cannot work from home), for exercise and recreation outdoors, for medical reasons, to shop for food and essentials, to care for others. Pubs, bars, restaurants, hairdressers and gyms will be forced to close. While takeaways can offer a delivery service.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.