Covid-19 Update

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 11:51 am on 17 December 2020.

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Photo of Matthew Hancock Matthew Hancock Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 11:51, 17 December 2020

My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and I am grinning because I think this is the first time in the dozens and dozens of statements I have made this year when Jonathan Ashworth has not mentioned track and trace. I will tell you why, Madam Deputy Speaker: the latest statistics show that where communications were available, 96.6% of people were reached and told to self-isolate. That is because of the huge improvements in contact tracing and testing that have been delivered this year—[Hon. Members: “By local authorities.”] Including, of course, by local authority partners, but also by the brilliant national NHS Test and Trace system, which we should all congratulate. Getting those contact rates—[Interruption.]