THE CHIEF Executive of Leeds City Council has been asked by the government to take a key role in its contact tracing programme across the country.

Tom Riordan will lead on ensuring that the arrangements for linking contact tracing work effectively at local level and that the partnerships and capacity are in place to support this, not just in Leeds but country-wide. He will take on the national role for three months alongside his responsibilities as chief executive.

Leeds City Council Leader Councillor Judith Blake said:“Long-term management of the COVID-19 pandemic would be unsustainable without thorough testing and tracing arrangements and it is imperative that these are put in place effectively at local level right at the start. Having carefully considered the implications of supporting Tom to take on this major responsibility, it was clear that he was the right person to represent the sector, the city and the country in such a vital role.”