Covid Response - Spring 202123 Feb 2021 06:37
Current Test, Trace and Isolate system
Over 80 million PCR tests have been conducted - more than one for every person living
in the UK.
75 More than 85% of in-person tests now return results the next day, an
improvement of more than 52% since December, and the median distance travelled to
one of over 850 test sites is approximately 2 to 3 miles.76
As around 1 in 3 people with COVID-19 do not have symptoms, the Government has
established widespread asymptomatic testing. This is conducting around 2.4 million
rapid tests per week, including to all NHS and Adult Social Care staff and, since January,
all school staff.
Tracing performance has also improved. Between 4 and 10 February, 93.6% of close
contacts were reached and told to self-isolate, compared to 60% in October. Over 90%
were reached within 72 hours of the person they were in close contact with testing
positive. This work is done in close partnership with local authorities, with over 300 local
contact tracing partnerships in place.
The NHS Test and Trace COVID-19 App has been downloaded over 21 million times
and, since September, has notified over 1.7 million users across England and Wales to
isolate.77 Developments continue in response to user feedback, including the
introduction of a ‘book a test’ venue alert. The App also helps the public to understand
how best to protect themselves, makes it easy for users to check in to venues and sends
alerts that users may have been exposed to COVID-19 at a venue they have visited.
The Government has also deployed new tools to support people to self-isolate, including
making available £110 million for the Test and Trace Support Payment.
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