Hounslow Council is taking a more active role in the NHS Test and Trace programme.

The council has developed and launched the system which will see council staff support the efforts to locate people who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.

The programme contacts people who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive and asks them to self-isolate for 14 days from the date they were last with the infected person.

But the system has been struggling with only about two-thirds of those who need to be contacted being reached.

It is hoped the new localised, One Hounslow approach will improve this by helping the NHS and getting in touch with the other third.

Council staff will be supporting the national service and contacting local people with a positive test to talk to them about support and self-isolation.

Cllr Candice Atterton, Cabinet Member for Adults, Social Care and Health, said: "This new service is vital to protect the NHS and save lives in Hounslow.

"Contact tracing is an important part of the strategy to get COVID-19 under control.

"Before now, a lack of local authority involvement has meant significant gaps in the scheme, and Government recognition of the importance of local connections and expertise is overdue.

"Residents will be given advice and guidance to help them self-isolate. They will be asked if Hounslow Community Hub can help, such as with food deliveries, collecting medication or debt advice.

"It is more important than ever that we all play our part to limit the spread of the virus throughout our communities and to save lives.

"That includes helping us with contact tracing. We need people to answer when we call. We need people to get a test if they have any symptoms and to self-isolate if they test positive or are contacted by a contact tracer."

More information about contract tracing.