NATIONAL coronavirus contact tracers are reaching fewer people in Oxfordshire who should be told to self isolate, figures reveal.

Data from the Department for Health and Social Care shows 5,318 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in the county were transferred to the Test and Trace service between May 28 and November 4.

It led to 14,745 close contacts being identified but just 58.7 per cent were reached, meaning 6,083 people were not contacted or did not respond.

That was down from the 59.1 per cent reached up to October 28, and below the 62.7 per cent South East average.

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Across England, 59 per cent of contacts not managed by local health protection teams were reached and told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace in the latest week to November 4.

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trust leaders, said: "The number of people who tested positive for Covid this week has increased by eight per cent.

"Despite this, it is worrying to see fewer close contacts identified than the previous week, and with over 124,000 not reached this week it highlights how far the system has to go to be effective.

"We remain hopeful that the number of people testing positive for Covid will reduce as national lockdown continues, however are realistic that winter is going to be extremely challenging, particularly without a world class testing and contact tracing system."