Local contact tracing launched in Cheshire West and Chester to stop the spread of COVID-19

A local contact tracing partnership has been launched in the fight against COVID-19 in West Cheshire.

Cheshire West and Chester Local Contact Tracing Partnership will start calling people who have tested positive for Coronavirus from Wednesday, 25 November.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has set up the partnership with NHS Test and Trace and Council company Qwest.

In this new partnership, the Council will contact any borough residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 which the national NHS Test and Trace service has not been able to contact within 24 hours.

Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Contact tracing is a vitally important part of the strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the borough.

“Effective contact tracing is based on getting in touch with as many people who have tested positive as possible and getting in touch with them as quickly as possible after their test result.

“We know from information collected by NHS Test and Trace that as many as 30% of people are not contacted at all, and for a number of people it can take more than 48 hours before they hear from Test and Trace.

“Our new partnership will work closely with NHS Test and Trace to take responsibility for those residents, aiming to reach more of them and reach them more quickly to make sure people have the support they need to self-isolate.

“It’s about working together with our partners and residents, all playing our part to turn this around.”

Working directly with our Public Health team, specially trained contact centre staff will telephone residents to offer advice and guidance on how to self-isolate following a positive test result and ensure they have the support they need to do this successfully.

They will help residents identify anyone else who may also need to be advised to self-isolate and will make sure residents know how and when to access healthcare if they or their families develop more serious symptoms of COVID-19.

Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 – a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss or change in your sense of smell or taste – should self-isolate immediately and book a test by calling: 119 or visiting: nhs.uk/coronavirus.

If you have symptoms you should self-isolate for 10 days unless you receive a negative test result. Anyone in your household should self-isolate for 14 days. They do not need to get a test unless they develop symptoms.

If you need support to self-isolate and do not have friends or family to help then you can call the Council’s helpline on: 0300 123 7031.

If you have online access you can visit: livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk for information about support available in your community.

For more information about financial support, including help with council tax payments, financial and practical support or the Test and Trace support payment, and to find out if you are eligible, visit: cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/coronavirus and click on ‘how to get help’.