Test and Trace

The NHS Test and Trace service ensures that anyone who develops symptoms of Covid-19 can quickly be tested to find out if they have the virus.

The service helps trace close recent contacts of anyone who tests positive for coronavirus and, if necessary, notifies them that they must self-isolate at home to help stop the spread of the virus.

If you develop symptoms of coronavirus, such as a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, you should self-isolate at home and request to be tested via www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test.

As part of the NHS Test and Trace service, a call handler may make contact by phone, email or text with anyone who has been identified as high risk of contracting the virus and instruct them to self-isolate for 14 days from the date of their last contact with the confirmed case individual.

To be at high risk of contracting the virus, current public health advice is that the individual will have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Close contact means face to face contact less than one metre away or spending more than 15 minutes within two metres of someone.

Unless instructed by NHS Test and Trace or a public health authority to be tested, or if an individual has symptoms, you do not need to be tested and should remain in work - practising social distancing and good hand hygiene.

If any colleague is unsure what to do, they should use the online coronavirus service (https://111.nhs.uk/Covid-19/).

The latest up to date information and advice can be found on our Coronavirus homepage, which includes a regularly updated Q&A document.