Border ‘important factor’ in spread of Covid-19 as contact tracing is rolled out across NI

Contact tracing was in place at the beginning of this pandemic but was abandoned in mid-March. When it was in place people from Fermanagh were tested at South West Acute Hospital. It is now expected that anyone who needs a test through the new contact tracing measures will receive one at the new test centre at Enniskillen, believed to be operational from St. Angelo by yesterday (Wednesday).

Health Minister Robin Swann said: “I very much welcome the roll out of this contact tracing and commend those involved in making it happen.

“This is another example of the herculean work right across the HSC system to fight back against COVID-19 and keep people safe.

“The battle against the virus is a long-term challenge and contact tracing will have a very important role as part of that.”

At the end of April, the Public Health Agency (PHA) commenced a pilot programme of contact tracing which is helping to inform the planned roll-out of a Northern Ireland-wide contact tracing programme, as requested by the Department of Health.

Dr. Jackie Hyland, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: “Contact tracing on COVID-19 at this stage involves new ways of working given the scale and the fact that new evidence is continually emerging about the illness. We have teamed up with colleagues in the university sector and Health and Social Care Trusts to put in place all the necessary logistics.

“We are now rolling out contact tracing further and working with the public to support people who may have been exposed so they can get tested and self-isolate to help prevent spread of infection.”

Dr. Hyland said the second phase will involve “scaling up” of the processes involved and that there is sufficient staff in place to meet the current demand: “From May 14 we have been undertaking contact tracing for all confirmed positive cases of COVID-19. Testing is also now available to everyone in Northern Ireland aged over five with symptoms, which will form an important part of the contact tracing programme. The number of staff currently required changes each day in line with workload, but we have sufficient staff trained and available to manage contact tracing and meet demand.”

The Department of Health is also taking forward work around digital solutions that can support the wider contact tracing programme when it goes live. As part of the scaling up there will be a public information programme to keep people aware of the processes involved.

In terms of how contact tracing will work logistically Dr. Hyland explained the process:

“People are asked to be aware that they may be phoned by the PHA contact tracing staff. We will talk to people with a positive test about their infection and we will ask them if there are people they have been close to who may be at risk of becoming ill (their contacts).

“A contact tracing team member will then phone these contacts and talk to them about their risk of infection. Everyone who has the infection and who is a close contact will have to self-isolate. To be successful in contact tracing we need people to provide their phone number when they get a test.”

In a statement the PHA explained that testing and contact tracing will only have an impact on reducing transmission in the community if individuals self-isolate when required.

It acknowledged that “self-isolating can be very difficult for people” but said that “the health service is working together with volunteers and departments to try to ensure that appropriate support is available”.

The PHA also said that “the land Border with the Republic of Ireland is an important factor in the spread of infectious diseases and therefore contact tracing”.

It went on to say: “There are well-established systems in place to work with our colleagues in the Republic of Ireland on contact tracing and management of infectious diseases, and the health service is working at pace to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and help protect cross-Border travellers.