UK contact tracing fails to reach a quarter of people who test positive

In the second week of operation of the UK’s contact tracing system a quarter of people who tested positive for COVID-19 could not be reached because they had not supplied phone numbers or email addresses. Of the close contacts whose details were provided, contact tracers reached 90.6% to advise them to self-isolate. Data from the first week also showed that only 75% of contactees could be reached within the target 24 hours; contact was made with another 13.6% within 48 hours, and another 8.6% after 72 hours.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/18/contact-tracers-in-england-get-no-data-from-26-of-people-with-coronavirus

Writer: Sarah Bosely
Publication: Guardian
Publication date: 2020-06-18