HEALTH experts in Bradford district are urging residents to use the new national NHS Test and Trace service if they think they have any of the common symptoms of COVID-19.

NHS Test and Trace, which went live on Thursday May 28, is designed to identify those in the community who have had close contact with people who have tested positive for coronavirus, helping to reduce the spread of the virus and save lives.

Sarah Muckle, Director of Public Health for Bradford, said: “We are entering a critical time for the district and working together to make NHS Test and Trace a success is vital to the safety of our people and the recovery of our local economy.

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“As lockdown restrictions begin to ease gradually, it’s important to recognise we all need to take responsibility for controlling the spread of COVID-19. Alongside continuing effective social distancing and good hygiene, the NHS Test and Trace service help us to contain local cases and prevent a second peak in infections.

“The guidance is clear: if you have symptoms of coronavirus, self-isolate, get tested and share your contacts with NHS Test and Trace.

“We are hugely grateful for the role our communities have played so far in adhering to the rules and limiting the spread of the virus, so we’re urging local people to keep this up by using this new service and following any advice they are given.”

Public health experts say it’s vital to follow four simple steps as soon as you think you may have the virus:

1. Isolate: As soon as you develop symptoms – a new, continuous cough OR a high fever OR a loss/change of taste or smell – you should self-isolate. Stay at home for seven days, and anyone else in your household should stay home for 14 days.

2. Test: Book a test online at nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119 if you have no internet access. Anyone with symptoms can book a test, now including children under 5.

3. Results: If your test is positive, you and your household need to complete your period of isolation. If it’s negative, you can all end your isolation.

4. Share contacts: If your test is positive, the NHS Test and Trace service will contact you by text, email or phone to give you instructions on sharing details of places you’ve been and who you’ve been in close contact with so they can be given advice on what to do.

If you are identified as a close contact of a positive case:

1. Alert: You will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace by text, email or phone call, and you will be told what you need to do to communicate with the service.

2. Isolate: You will be told to stay at home and self-isolate for 14 days from your last contact with the person who tested positive, even if you currently feel well, to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus. Other members of your household don’t need to self-isolate unless you have symptoms, but they should take extra care with handwashing, social distancing and avoiding contact with you.

3. Test if needed: If you develop symptoms, other members of your household should self-isolate immediately for 14 days. You should book a test – if it’s positive, you should stay home for 7 days and you will need to follow the process for identifying contacts. If it is negative, you must still complete your 14-day self-isolation period because the virus may not be detectable yet.

Staff from Bradford’s public health team are joining NHS Test and Trace’s 25,000-strong contact tracing team, which has the capacity to trace contacts of up to 10,000 people who test positive per day.

Local authorities will be working closely with NHS Test and Trace to develop local outbreak control plans, building on the work already done so far to respond to coronavirus.

Health protection experts will also link in with other partners to identify and contain potential outbreaks in places such as workplaces, housing complexes, care homes and schools, ensure testing capacity is deployed effectively and help the most vulnerable in self-isolation access essential services in their area.