Lewisham takes on COVID-19 contact tracing
Over 300 local authorities across the country have joined forces with NHS Test and Trace to help support anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 to identify recent contacts. Since March 2021, Lewisham Council has gone a step further and taken on contact tracing of positive cases entirely as one of just six local authorities in a Local-0 pilot.
Since launch on 15 March, the Council’s team has successfully contacted 91% of people in the borough who has tested positive for COVID-19 to talk about recent close contacts who may be at risk. Nationally the aim is to reach over 90% of cases and the rate of success in Lewisham has leapt from 80% since before the pilot.
Previously, contact tracing has been led by a national team who would make contact with positive cases 24-32 hrs of test results becoming available. This pilot will mean that the local contact tracing team contacts all positive residents as soon as test results are available.
Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 in Lewisham will be contacted by a member local team within a matter of hours, certainly within a day. Phone calls are quick, usually no more than ten minutes as the team talks through details of close contacts during the two days before developing COVID-19 symptoms.
Lewisham’s Public Health team is urging everyone to give the correct contact details when getting a test and look out for a phone call afterwards.
Dr Catherine Mbema, Director of Public Health for Lewisham said:
“If you’ve taken a COVID-19 test and receive a positive result, look out for a local 020 telephone number. There’ll be a friendly local voice on the end of the line.
“It’s really nothing to worry about as there’s no judgement about how you might have picked up COVID-19 and certainly no consequences. The team is just looking to help identify any of your contacts who may be at risk and to help stop the spread of the virus in Lewisham.
“They’re also really well placed to offer advice and support on how to self-isolate and if you’re eligible, they’ll very quickly be able to signpost you to financial support if you’re concerned about getting by through the ten days of self-isolation.”
In Lewisham, the local contact tracing team is largely made up of librarians and other Council staff who have stepped up to support the borough’s effort in tackling COVID-19.
The Public Health team thinks much of the pilot’s success is down to having considerate, personable individuals who have really embraced the importance of sensitive conversations, at a time when people may feel unwell or have genuine concerns about the prospect of self-isolation.
Veronica Hyatt, usually Service Development Manager in Library Services and now coordinating the contact tracing team, said:
“It’s been very rewarding to be part of Lewisham’s contact tracing team. It allows us to be there for our local community and between us do our bit to help stop the spread.
“We get to direct people to support they need, whether it’s the £500 self-isolation payment, talking people through how to arrange home delivery of groceries or medicines, or simply providing calm, reassuring words to people who may be worried about having COVID-19.
“If you do test positive, please take our call – listen out for a voice you might recognise – you’ll be talking to Lewisham people who are here to support you and get the best outcomes for our borough.”
Lewisham’s Public Health team firmly believe this is the very best moment to be setting up this new, local process. As the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 in Lewisham remains low and steady, while the Council steps up its isolation support, the team are working hard to find the most efficient processes to best support local people. As the Government’s roadmap signals a gradual easing of restrictions, regular COVID-19 testing and contact tracing will become even more important to avoid the infection rate rising again.
Financial support if you have to self-isolate
A one-off £500 payment is available for Lewisham residents, who are working or self-employed and recently asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace (within the last 42 days).
You’ll be eligible if you are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of self-isolation (furloughed pay doesn’t count as loss of income) and you receive at least one of the following Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits – Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit.
The eligibility for a further discretionary payment has been recently reviewed to allow those with a gross income of up to £500 per week with responsibility for paying rent or a mortgage to be able to access support if they are unable to work from home and will lose income as a result of self-isolation. To qualify, you must have previously claimed one of the DWP benefits and be waiting on a decision or an appeal. Anyone with savings above £6,000 will not be able to apply and applicants will be asked to provide evidence to support this.
Find out more about financial support if you have to self-isolate.