Test and Trace must play its part in containing the surge in COVID-19 cases

15 July 2021


Responding to the latest figures from NHS Test and Trace, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

"We are continuing to see a concerning rise in the number of people testing positive for COVID-19, with today's figures showing a steep increase of 43% on the previous week. This comes as some trusts are having to cancel routine operations to deal with the rise in COVID-19 hospital admissions and demands for urgent and emergency care.

"Worryingly, NHS Test and Trace performance has fallen back with a decline in the number of positive cases being transferred into the system, and of these, it's concerning that well over 20,000 people were not reached. This week also saw a worrying fall in the number of in-person tests being received within 24 hours.

"With coronavirus cases on the increase, and a daily total of almost 40,000 new cases in England, we urgently need Test and Trace to raise its game and do more to bear down on the virus. This is absolutely critical if we are to avoid more infections, more hospital admissions and sadly more deaths, particularly as we approach the lifting of more COVID-19 restrictions on 19 July."