BRADFORD'S Covid contact tracing success rate has risen again – but it is still the lowest in England, figures reveal.

Data from the Department for Health and Social care shows 12,916 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Bradford were transferred to the Test and Trace service between May 28 and October 21.

That means 2,560 new cases were transferred in the latest seven-day period – the largest increase since the regime began.

Contact tracers ask these patients to give details for anyone they were in close contact with in the 48 hours before their symptoms started.

This led to 30,745 close contacts being identified over the period – those not managed by local health protection teams, which are dealt with through a call centre or online.

Contact tracers reached 49.1% of those – up slightly from 48.7% up to October 14, and 48.4% to October 7.

However, it meant the area was still the worst performing in England.

Across England, 58.1% of contacts not managed by local health protection teams were reached and told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace in the latest week to October 21.

Local health protection teams deal with cases linked to settings such as hospitals, schools and prisons.

The contact tracing rate including these cases was 60.3% – up slightly from the week before, when it was at a record low.

Around 120,000 new cases were transferred nationally in the week to October 21.