Test & Trace Explained: Director of Public Health busts myths in new video

Sheffield's Director of Public Health, Greg Fell, has released a short video clarifying how coronavirus Test and Trace is working in Sheffield and how residents can keep safe as lockdown is eased. We've summarised the key points here for easy access.

Prevention & Self Isolating

Don't be a contact! Keep a 2m distance from anyone who isn't from your household; wash your hands regularly with hot soapy water or 70% alcohol gel; and stay at home wherever possible.

If you develop symptoms (a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste):

• Self isolate for 7 days. This is by far the most important thing you can do (50% of the reduction of the spread of coronavirus comes from this). Anyone in your household should also isolate for 14 days from when you started showing symptoms.
• Get a test immediately at nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119. If the test is positive, you must still complete your 7 days of isolation, even if you start to feel well.
• Share your contacts. If you test positive, NHS Test and Trace will be in touch about how to share details of people you have had close contact with. You will need to provide this information online or you'll be phoned by a contact tracer.

Test & Trace

If you're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service because you've been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, you should:

• Isolate for 14 days from the last contact you had with the person who tested positive. This is really important because you could be infectious to others, even if you feel well.
• Visit the NHS Test and Trace website. If this is not possible, the service will contact you.
• Get a test via nhs.uk/coronavirus or call 119. Even if you test negative after being contacted by NHS Test and Trace, you must still complete your 14 days of self-isolation.
• While you are waiting for your test result, tell the people you have been in recent close contact with. They do not need to self-isolate unless you get a positive result, but they should take extra care in social distancing and hand hygiene in the meantime.

Test Results

• If your test is positive, stay at home for 7 days. You will be asked about your recent contacts. Tell people about your test result, especially those you have had close contact with in the last 48 hours.
• A negative test does not mean you are immune. You must still social distance and wash your hands regularly.
• If you test positive, you do not need to be tested again in order to return to work or stop self-isolating. If you've self-isolated for 7 days after a positive test and you're symptom-free you can return to work safely.

Avoiding Scams

NHS contact tracers will:

• Never ask you to dial a premium rate number (e.g. starting 09 or 087).
• Never ask you to make a purchase or payment of any kind.
• Never ask you for your bank account details.
• Never ask you for your social media identity or log-in details.
• Never ask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set anything up that might require a password or PIN.
• Never ask you to disclose personal or medical information to your contacts, and they will never disclose that information themselves.
• Never provide medical advice.
• Never ask you to download software to your computer or to hand over control of your computer.
• Never ask you to ask to visit any website that doesn't belong to the Government or the NHS.