Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how long it will take, under the test and trace service, to trace people's contacts following a COVID-19 test; and what assessment they have made of whether this is quick enough to isolate people before infection spreads.

The Government launched its new NHS Test and Trace service on 28 May 2020.

If someone experiences symptoms of COVID-19 and gets tested, systems are in place to ensure that the NHS Test and Trace service automatically receives information if their test result is positive. Providing NHS Test and Trace have contact details, such as email, text or landline, they will aim to contact people within 24 hours of receiving the test result.

The more rapidly we can identify people who may have been at risk of infection and, if necessary, tell them to self-isolate, the more effectively we can reduce the R rate and the spread of the virus and maintain transmission at low levels.