Test and Trace for Coronavirus launches today across England
From 9am today, the new NHS Test and Trace service has launched across England - helping us to keep the virus under control while carefully and safely lifting the lockdown nationally.
The NHS’s Test and Trace service will form a central part of the Government’s strategy to beat the virus. The service will help identify, contain and control coronavirus. That will reduce the spread of the virus, and save lives.
What is the NHS Test and Trace service?
As always, anyone who is feels they may have coronavirus symptoms will need to start isolating for seven days, and the household for fourteen days. The NHS Test and Trace system means that anyone in England who has developed symptoms will need to get tested.
You can book a test by going to nhs.uk/coronavirus or calling 119. If you test negative, you must still complete a 14-day isolation period at home, but your household can stop isolating unless either they, or the original person, starts to become symptomatic.
If you test positive, you need to share your contacts via NHS Test and Trace, as well as starting a 7-day isolation.
People who are flagged as contacts will receive a text or an email, telling them what they need to do. Close contacts of those who test positive, including members of their household, will need to self-isolate for 14 days.
We will soon have the ability to test over 200,000 people a day for coronavirus, using 50 drive-through sites, more than 100 mobile testing units and 3 mega laboratories.
Why these tests matter
Matt Hancock, in a Press Conference this week, stressed the importance of NHS Test and Trace to fight the coronavirus:
'As we move to the next stage of our fight against coronavirus, we will be able to replace national lockdowns with individual isolation and, if necessary, local action where there are outbreaks,' he said.
'NHS Test and Trace will be vital to stopping the spread of the virus. It is how we will be able to protect our friends and family from infection, and protect our NHS.
'This new system will help us keep this virus under control while carefully and safely lifting the lockdown nationally.'
Stay alert. Control the Virus. Save lives.
As we move to the next phase of our fight against coronavirus, we must ensure we continue to control the spread and do not compromise the progress we have made. We have to stay alert, to control the virus and save lives.
This means we must:
- Stay at home as much as possible
- Work from home if you can
- Limit contact with other people
- Keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
- Wash your hands regularly
- Self-isolate if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.
While we cautiously move to the next phase of our response to this unprecedented virus testing will remain key – alongside the continued heroic efforts of the British public in controlling the spread of the virus and in doing so, saving lives.