Test and trace service in Bedford records largest weekly increase in positive cases

“We need prompt action to prevent a full-blown second Covid surge," urges NHS Providers boss
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Bedford had its largest weekly increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases transferred to the test and trace service at the end of September, figures show.

It comes as the number of people testing positive for the coronavirus in England increased by more than half in one week, with health chiefs warning "prompt action" is needed to prevent a tide of hospitalisations.

Data from the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) shows 773 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Bedford were transferred to the Test and Trace service between May 28 and September 30.

Bedford had its largest weekly increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases transferred to the test and trace service at the end of SeptemberBedford had its largest weekly increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases transferred to the test and trace service at the end of September
Bedford had its largest weekly increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases transferred to the test and trace service at the end of September

That was 71 more than the total transferred up to September 23 – the largest weekly increase since comparable local figures were first published in August.

Test and Trace asks these patients to give details for anyone they were in close contact with in the 48 hours before their symptoms started.

In Bedford, 1,260 close contacts were identified but just 59.9 per cent of those were reached by contact tracers in the four-month period, meaning 505 people were not contacted or did not respond.

That was only slightly up from the 59 per cent reached in the period to September 23.

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, said the large increase in positive tests, alongside worsening test and trace performance nationally, is "worrying."

He said: “We need prompt action to prevent a full-blown second Covid surge.

"We need every member of the public to play their part – hands, face and space – as they did in the first phase of Covid, however frustrating and burdensome they find any restrictions or public health advice."

There are now 87 local authority contact tracing teams live across the country, with more due in the coming weeks, according to the DHSC.

Baroness Dido Harding, who is interim executive chairwoman of the National Institute for Health Protection, said demand for tests is rising with the growing number of cases.

She said: “We are working hard to increase testing capacity to meet that demand and improve turnaround times for tests.

“We have now opened 500 test sites across the UK, an extraordinary achievement.”

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