• The latest NHS Test and Trace data shows 194,005 positive cases of COVID-19 were recorded between 1 July to 7 July, which is an increase of 43% on the previous week.
• 82.6% of positive cases were transferred into the system, with 13.9% not reached, up from 12.1% last week.
• For all Pillar 2 routes combined, 63% were returned within 24 hours, down considerably from 76.9% in the previous week.

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."