SOLIHULL authorities have released more information on how ‘track and trace’ will work in the borough to help lockdown easing.
It involves tracing people who those infected with Covid -19 have been in contact with, then asking them to self-isolate.
The systems started across the country this week and Solihull is among the region’s towns and cities chosen to test and ‘pilot’ aspects of the scheme.
Solihull Council leader Ian Courts said: “The recent government announcement launching the NHS test and trace service is another key step in the Covid-19 journey. It is only with this system up and running, that we can move cautiously through the process of exiting the lockdown.
“It is early days but the approach is simple.
“If you have any signs of Covid-19, you self-isolate immediately, and order a test online or by calling 119, if you have no internet access.
“If you test positive for Covid-19, you will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace. You will need to say who you have been with recently. “This could include household members, anyone else you’ve been in direct contact with, for example, face to face contact within 1 metre, or within 2 metres for more than 15 minutes.
“The people you identify will then be contacted and advised to stay at home for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms, so they don’t unknowingly spread the virus.
“If you are contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service, you will be given clear information explaining what you must do and how you can access local support if you need it. There is guidance online at gov.uk/coronavirus.
“If we follow this advice very carefully we will reduce the risk of the virus spreading again as lockdown measures are lifted. If we don’t, we risk spreading the virus and having to wait much longer to safely release the lockdown more.
“These measures are really crucial to support some of the important steps, such as the gradual re-opening of schools, outdoor spaces and in time, retail. We all need to do what we can to help make this work.
“As the NHS Test and Trace service goes live, we will be working with Warwickshire County Council and Coventry City Council to pilot local outbreak management plans, linking into other key partners, including the NHS and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
“We will be working with our NHS colleagues and Public Health England to develop local tailored plans that focus on identifying and containing outbreaks in places such as our schools, care homes and work places.
“Our track record of working in partnership with Coventry and Warwickshire, alongside the WMCA, forged over many years, is excellent. We also want to build on the close working relationship with our local NHS that has been key in supporting our care homes.
“It is early days, but we look forward to shaping the national approach to stopping the virus spreading and playing our part locally.”
