Tonight on @BBCNewsnight we're reporting on @Calderdale local Covid test & trace system, set up in mid-August after an outbreak in central Halifax. At that point the national NHS Test & Trace was only reaching 2/3 of positive cases in this part of West Yorkshire.
The local scheme gets details of cases once the national one (run for the NHS by private contractors) hasn't reached them for 24 hours. It's got successful tracing up to 95% with a combination of local knowledge, making calls from local nos not 0330 & boots on the ground
Even so, Calderdale's Covid cases are very high (442 per 100,000). We know T&T is only part of the answer (& not much good once prevalence rises) but if Lockdown 2.0 is the breathing space needed to get back on track, here are the takeaways for how things might improve...
The contract tracer we met says he usually doesn't get the info until 5 days after the person he's asked to contact has tested positive. Speed is crucial to break the chains of transmission so, as he puts it, 'that's far, far too late'
When he calls (or meets them face to face if they haven't picked up), he's not allowed to speak to the contacts of that positive case. He has to take those details and pass them back to the national system, for NHS T&T to try and reach them to get them to self-isolate.
That's adding more delay to the system when delay allows Covid-19 to spread. They've also picked up a reluctance in some quarters to self-isolate and the council puts that down to people not being able to afford to spend up to 14 days at home (for financial reasons)
Calderdale's head of public health wants the Gov to change the NHS T&T support grant, currently £500 for those on low incomes who can't work from home. @DeborahHarkins says not funding self-isolation properly is 'undermining the effectiveness of the whole contact tracing system'
@LGAcomms & @Solace_UK have told Newsnight they agree: eligibility criteria needs changing & the amount on offer. (Calderdale have found only 7% of people who come forward actually get the cash. The council is offering other hardship support payments to ameliorate).
Gov told us: 'Up to 4m people would be eligible for a support payment of £500, on top of any current benefits and Statutory Sick Pay they are eligible for, if asked to self-isolate by NHS Test & Trace, with additional funding made available to local authorities'
@DHSCgovuk says NHS T&T is a collaboration between national & local. The contact tracer in @Calderdale says it needs a 'total rethink' - he wants immediate access to the details of the positive cases in the area as they come in, so they can reach & support them in time
@Calderdale is planning to roll out routine asymptomatic testing: taxi drivers are in line. Other priority groups are being decided on (educators, shop workers are in the frame). Piece tonight with @sallyches @vidivic #Covid19UK
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