Test and Trace misses over 2,000 in South Tyneside

The figures come as NHS Test and Trace reached its lowest ever proportion of close contacts nationally – with some 40% of people not being found as advised to isolate.

Data from the Department for Health and Social care shows 2,701 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in South Tyneside were transferred to the national Test and Trace service between May 28 and October 28 – with 360 new cases in the latest seven-day period.

This led to 6,112 close contacts being identified over the period – but just 63% were reached, meaning 2,261 people were not contacted or did not respond.

That was down from the 63.6% reached up to October 21, but above the 59.2% average across the North East as whole.

Across England, 58.5% of contacts were reached and told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace in the latest week to October 28.

NHS Test and Trace is the national centralised service with local health protection teams dealing with cases linked to settings such as hospitals, schools and prisons.

The national system has come under sustained pressure in recent months because of a steady reduction in the number of people being traced.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland has said the month-long lockdown that began in England on Thursday will be used to “redouble our efforts” to expand the programme.

He said it is also vital to increase the speed at which test results are returned.