Sheffield's Covid contact tracing performance drops for third week

Data from the Department for Health and Social care shows 19,640 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Sheffield were transferred to the Test and Trace service between May 28 and November 11.

That means 2,298 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 43,880 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 56.8% were reached – down from 57% at the start of the scheme to October 21, 57% by October 28 and 56.9% by 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.

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.