NHS Test and Trace service launched

Test and Trace is a new service developed by the NHS to help people who develop symptoms of Coronavirus to be tested quickly.

The service will also trace all recent close contacts of anyone who tests positive. The service is an added safety net when you start going out and about.

This service will let you know if you have been in contact recently with someone who has tested positive. This may sound frightening but please be assured this is to help us keep safe and stop the virus spreading. Contact will either be by text, email or a phone call.

You will then be asked to log onto the NHS test and trace website to be given information, but don’t worry if you can’t do this; there is an option to speak to a trained person on the phone.

If you are contacted you will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days from your last contact with the person who has tested positive. It is really important to do this even if you don’t feel unwell.

If you develop symptoms and you have not already been contacted by this service then it is up to you to make contact. You need to book a test via the NHS website www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or call a new dedicated phone number 119. 

If you test positive you must stay at home for at least 7 days and the test and trace service will get in touch to ask about who you have been in contact with recently. If you test negative you must still isolate for 14 days because you may still have the virus.

This is a lot of information and you may be reluctant to give personal information but please note that the NHS test and trace service will never:

• Ask for bank details
• Ask for details of any other accounts such as social media
• Ask you to set up a password or PIN over the phone
• Or ask for other personal details such as maiden names, previous schools or pets names

Please be assured that all the information you give will be kept safe and only used for the purpose of testing and tracing. Please help keep your friends and family safe. Further information can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/.