Recommendation 7

NHST&T’s effectiveness also relies on people complying with its processes, from coming forward to take a test when they have symptoms, to self-isolating in line with requirements. NHST&T noted that the single most important part of the process was people coming forward for testing.18 The National Audit Office also highlighted the low compliance with self-isolation rules, with estimates of the proportion of people fully complying with requirements ranging from 10% to 59%. We are concerned that lack of 10 Qq 13, 43 11 C&AG’s Report, para 1.13 12 Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, Thirty-second SAGE meeting on Covid-19, 1 May 2020 13 Department of Health and Social Care, Weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace; Department of Health and Social care, The COVID-19 dashboard; Office for Statistics Regulation, Ed Humpherson to Stephen Balchin; NHS Test and Trace statistics (England) 14 Qq 27–30; Weekly statistics for NHS Test and Trace; Department of Health and Social care 15 Office for Statistics Regulation, Ed Humpherson to Stephen Balchin; NHS Test and Trace statistics (England). 16 Department of Health & Social Care submission point 2; C&AG’s report, para 3.17 From November 2020, NHST&T no longer contacts household contacts individually; instead the person testing positive is asked to inform their household contacts that they need to self-isolate. This change was intended to “optimise… productivity… by minimising the number of calls made”. In terms of performance metrics, it increases the total proportion of contacts counted as reached, and the proportion reached within 24 hours. See also: https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/nhs-test-and-trace-statistics-england-methodology. 17 Department of Health & Social Care submission point 2; C&AG’s report, para 3.17 18 Qq 15, 16, 96 COVID-19: Test, track and trace (part 1) 11 compliance is undermining the effectiveness of the test and trace programme.19 When challenged, NHST&T acknowledged more could be done but