The centralised test and trace system run by companies, like Serco and Sitel, is cutting 6,000 contact tracer jobs and allocating roles to regional teams to work with councils. This follows criticism by local authorities that the centrally run system was failing to tackle local outbreaks.
The announcement by the government was that local and national teams would work together to make sure they reach as many people as possible who have been in contact with someone who has coronavirus. The change means the number of national contact tracers will be reduced from 18,000 to 12,000 on 24 August.
This could mean councils sending tracers to knock on doors to tell people who cannot be reached by phone that they have been in contact with a coronavirus case, as has been done under pilot schemes.
Full story in The Guardian, 10 August 2020
