NHS Test and Trace launches as Portsmouth councillor warns local lockdowns are 'complicated'

Anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 from Thursday will now be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to share information about their recent interactions.

People identified as having been in close contact with someone who has a positive test must stay at home for 14 days.

The data will help Hampshire Local Resilience Forum to work with teams in Public Health England to identify localised outbreaks, such as in workplaces, housing complexes, care homes and schools.

Plans are being drawn up on how to manage or lockdown individual areas if needed.

According to Portsmouth City Council leader, Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, the Hampshire Local Resilience Forum will coordinate any potential local lockdown plan for Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

But the announcement has raised some concerns.

Cllr Vernon-Jackson said: ‘I fear that this actually complicates things, not knowing what the different rules are for Portsmouth compared to Southampton or Brighton, for example.

'The “stay at home” message was much clearer and I think should apply to the entire country. That's the more sensible approach, to me.’

He added: ‘Because our numbers are so low I don't think we would be candidates for a local lockdown - in the majority people have been very good so far.’

A package of £300m of new funding has been made available to councils to implement the plans. It is unknown how much money Portsmouth and Hampshire councils will receive.

It is hoped the NHS Covid-19 App, which is currently being tested on the Isle of Wight, will be rolled out soon to help speed up contact tracing.

Healthwatch Portsmouth chairman Roger Batterbury believes there are positive benefits to the service but feels the tracing app should be part of the service from the start.

He said: ‘We are interested to see how the track and trace service will work in practice and how will communications work.

‘But also there's something very awkward about the expectation of people confessing what they've been doing, who they've seen, why and where.

‘There are also concerns about what safeguards are in place about people's data and could the call centre be hacked?

‘We are very positive about the concept of everyone taking personal responsibility for their actions with a fully functioning track and trace system in place but this is currently going to be a very hard sell for the government even more so without the app being included.’

Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘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.‘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.’

Dido Harding, executive chairwoman of NHS Test and Trace, said: ‘NHS Test and Trace will not succeed on its own – we all need to play our part. This is why we are working hand-in-hand with communities and local authorities across the country to tailor support at a local level, and respond quickly to local needs.

‘We will be constantly developing and improving as we go. Together we can help contain the virus, stop it spreading further and ultimately save lives.’

Anyone with a new, continuous cough, a high temperature or a change in their sense of smell or taste is asked to immediately report these symptoms and book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus

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