Local contact tracing system launched in Leeds

A new local contact tracing system for Leeds is set to boost the city’s efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The Leeds COVID-19 Connect and Support Service is being launched by Leeds City Council in partnership with Public Health England, enhancing ongoing work to protect residents and communities from the virus.

Working in tandem with the current national tracing team, the local service will get in touch with residents who may need to self-isolate and who can’t be contacted by the national service after a day. Using local knowledge and the latest information, the service will begin in areas of Leeds where case numbers mean greater support and outreach is needed, before quickly being scaled up to include the rest of the city.

The establishment of the local team will be the latest step in ongoing efforts to help Leeds through the pandemic, which has seen the council, partners, communities, schools and local businesses rally to support one another.

Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Contact tracing plays an absolutely critical part in controlling the spread of the virus and minimising the potential for transmission between people who may not know they need to isolate to protect themselves and others. Having a Leeds-based system in place will mean that, working with our third sector partners, we can bring our local knowledge and experience into play whilst also offering the added reassurance that we’ll be here to help and support residents who might be worried about self-isolating, particularly the vulnerable and those on low incomes.

“We’ve already seen some incredible work take place across our communities to help contain the spread of the virus and protect each other, which has had a huge impact and it’s encouraging to see that work taking making further strides at local level.”