London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

England’s coronavirus Test and Trace service falls short of target again, in new record low

England’s coronavirus Test and Trace service falls short of target again, in new record low

The NHS Test and Trace system in England has recorded its worst-ever weekly performance for reaching contacts of positive coronavirus cases, as the service wrangles with the country’s soaring Covid rates.
The percentage of contacts of positive coronavirus cases reached by England’s Test and Trace service has continued to fall, in the latest statistics published by the UK Department of Health and Social Care, sparking concern over Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s handling of the coronavirus epidemic.

New figures show that, in the week ending October 7, the service managed to reach only 62.6 percent of contacts identified — far below the target the government had set — as the system continues to struggle with soaring infections.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, known as SAGE, has warned that, if the coronavirus is to be brought under control, at least 80 percent of all contacts must be reached and self-isolate, or the virus will continue to spread throughout the country.

The health ministry defended this failure by claiming that the figures have increased, “as non-complex cases have a higher proportion of contacts who are unable to be reached”.

However, this is not likely to calm the criticism from the Labour Party, which has repeatedly called for a new ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown to help ease the burden and give the government time to fix the system.

Shadow Health Minister Justin Madders said: “Surely ministers must see that the system is falling apart and what was supposed to be world-beating is, in fact, now one of the biggest obstacles to us getting on top of the virus?”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has not yet formally commented on the new figures, but in the House of Commons on October 14, he claimed that, despite repeatedly failing to meet the required targets, Test and Trace is an “enormous system that is working so effectively”.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×