Up to 8,000 contact tracers are to be axed by Test and Trace

Up to 8,000 contact tracers are to be axed by Test and Trace because there are too few coronavirus cases being transferred to the system. The cut was revealed in a leaked internal email sent to the 22,000-strong workforce, which said the service needed to de-escalate from its winter high. Emma Moore, a senior T&T … Read more

NHS axes 2,000 test and trace jobs: Contact tracers cut despite coronavirus infections soaring

NHS Test and Trace has slashed 2,000 contact tracer roles despite renewed pressure on the system from rising infections. The army of call centre contact tracers was quietly cut from 12,000 to 10,000 within the last few weeks, Whitehall sources confirmed. It comes amid fresh strain on the programme, seen as vital to the Government’s … Read more

Beware phishing text messages pretending to be NHS contact tracers

Contact-tracing service becomes latest vehicle for fraudsters as households receive fake ‘health service’ coronavirus texts with phishing links Fraudsters are targeting people by pretending to be the new tracing service It contains a phishing link designed to harvest people’s personal details Britons have been bombarded with thousands of phishing emails and texts  Here’s how to … Read more

Contact tracers say the system is ‘obviously not ready’ and admit they have nothing to do all day

Contact tracers have warned the NHS system designed to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Britain is ‘obviously not ready’ – and revealed they are being paid up to £27-an-hour to do nothing.  Health officials warned ‘key bits’ of the programme for England were not yet up-and-running when it went live on Thursday, four days ahead … Read more

‘At least 10% of Britons will IGNORE request to self-isolate when contacted by NHS Covid tracers’

At least 10% of Britons will IGNORE request to self-isolate when contacted by NHS Covid tracers due to lockdown fatigue, says health chief amid reports scammers are falsely alerting people they have virus to steal data Public Health England chief says she is anticipating people being resistant  Boris Johnson’s alleged ex-mistress has urged people not … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Contract tracers say system is a ‘shambles’

With great fanfare, Boris Johnson last week announced a ‘world beating’ army of contact tracers whose job is to stop coronavirus in its tracks. No fewer than 25,000 have been hired. Their mission – to combat coronavirus by sleuthing down every person in danger of contracting Covid from each new case that emerges. On Thursday … Read more

COVID-19 track-and-trace army of 25,000 tracers to launch this week – if app’s glitches are fixed

Ministers will launch the vaunted new track-and-trace programme this week with an army of 25,000 recruits battling to lead Britain out of the coronavirus crisis. The plan – to track down those who have been in close contact with Covid-19 victims and isolate them to stop the chain of transmission – will swing into action … Read more

Serco accidentally shares e-mail addresses of 300 people training to be coronavirus contact tracers

Contact tracers hired to halt the spread of coronavirus in the UK have been told to consult YouTube for advice on how to deal with bereaved family members, it was revealed today. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Monday that 21,000 tracers would be receiving ‘rigorous’ and ‘detailed’ training needed for the important role, seen as … Read more

Michael Gove: More than 17,000 coronavirus contact tracers now hired

Michael Gove today revealed the Government has recruited more than 17,000 coronavirus contact tracers putting ministers on track to hit their 18,000 target.  The staff will play a key role in efforts to prevent a second wave of the deadly disease as they are tasked with figuring out where people who test positive have been … Read more

Coronavirus UK: Just 1.5k contact tracers of promised 18k hired

Just 1,500 coronavirus contact tracers out of a promised 18,000 had been appointed by the start of this week, a Cabinet minister has admitted. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said that while ‘about 15,000’ applicants have signed up to be a tracer, just 1,500 people have actually been hired. Ministers promised 18,000 tracers would be recruited … Read more