Some Brits ‘showing real reluctance to co-operate with Covid-19 tracers’, WHO warns

The organisation's Covid-19 special envoy, Dr David Nabarro, also warned that the UK is in a "delicate phase" of the pandemic 
The World Health Organisation said a working test and trace system is key to preventing a second spike in infections
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The World Health Organisation has warned that some British people are demonstrating a “real reluctance” to co-operate with the UK government’s contact tracing efforts.

The organisation's Covid-19 special envoy, Dr David Nabarro, made the comments on Friday while reiterating that making a success of NHS Track and Trace and similar systems will be essential in avoiding a second spike in novel coronavirus infections.

Latest figures show that 24 per cent of people (5,062) who tested positive for Covid-19 between May 28 and June 17, and who had been transferred to the tracing system, were not reached.

Mr Nabarro said: "When I saw the early figures I thought 'this is a great start but there's more to be done'.

"Then I've seen actually the numbers have stayed pretty static for the last three weeks.

The World Health Organisation is advising world leaders on handling the next phase of the pandemic
AFP via Getty Images

"And if I was in charge of the contact-tracing system I would be really asking myself, why is it proving so hard to find all those who have got the disease and to get to their contacts?

"It does appear there is still a real reluctance among some British people to be open about their contacts, and perhaps they feel it's an intrusion into their privacy.

"And I say here and now, when you're trying to get rid of this virus, contact tracing is absolutely critical.

"It's the only way to do it. And we have that information now from all over the world.

"So if you're in any doubt, please do co-operate on this contact-tracing issue, because it is key to getting down to the low levels that we need for life to recover and people to go about their lives as they wish to."

The health expert added that the danger from crowds flocking to beaches en-masse during the mini-heatwave this week is more potent from toilet usage and impact on cleaning staff than from sitting together outside.

He said: "I don't personally get really concerned when I see people outside in the open, because as you have just said, transmission is less likely to occur there.

"But it's what happens out of sight that I'm more worried about. People going to the toilet and being in a queue and perhaps there being transmission there.

"Or particularly the person who is cleaning the toilet being exposed to lots of folk with disease, people getting on the public transport and exposing bus drivers and the like.

"That's where I get nervous, because I actually feel this vast amount of movement that's going on, that is absolutely essential for people to come out and enjoy themselves again, does come at a risk.

"And I just ask everybody, don't just think of yourself. Think of the other person who you might be exposing to the virus, because sometimes they don't have a choice."

He urged the Government to "be careful" in setting up air bridges between countries to restart international travel - warning that we are currently in a “delicate phase”.

He said: "We're right at this delicate phase where we can actually push this virus right down, suppress it, and get on with life and have a good life.

"But if we are just a little bit careless and we get one of these major, what we call 'spreader events', where a lot of people get ill and then suddenly our health services get overwhelmed again, in the coming months or two we're going to look at each other and feel really frustrated.

"So please, when it comes to restarting international travel, be careful. Make sure that these air bridges are between places with just about the same risk profile. Then it makes sense.

"But don't be pushed into establishing air bridges that might then raise the risk of one or other country having a much higher level of disease.

"We would be very cross in two or three months time with ourselves if we don't get this right."

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “NHS Test and Trace has already helped prevent more than 100,000 people from unknowingly spreading the virus.

“We have over 27,000 fully trained contact tracers in place who receive the initial contact and escalate cases to local public health protection teams where necessary, as part of our integrated system."

With additional reporting from the Press Association

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