Barnet is one of four London boroughs at the forefront of efforts to develop a localised test-and-trace system to fight coronavirus.

Working with the NHS and other partners, the council will take part in a scheme to identify and contain potential outbreaks of Covid-19 in workplaces, housing complexes, care homes, schools and other areas.

Test and trace is the next step in the Government’s efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus as the nationwide lockdown is gradually eased.

It involves using digital and phone-based tracing to identify people who may have had contact with someone testing positive for the virus. These contacts are then alerted, allowing them to rapidly self-isolate.

Data on the virus’s spread will be shared with local authorities through the newly established Joint Biosecurity Centre, helping public health teams to understand how the virus is moving.

Eleven councils across the UK have been selected to take part in the project, which is backed by £300 million of Government funding. In London, Camden will lead, in collaboration with Hackney, Barnet and Newham.

Barnet Council’s director of public health Dr Tamara Djuretic said: “Barnet Council is delighted to play an important role in shaping the interface between local, regional and national architecture for the test, trace and test programme.

“Successful, whole-system response to testing and contact tracing will be crucial in this phase of the pandemic, in order to prevent or minimise spread of the infection and further peak.

“We will bring our experience of managing local outbreaks in care settings and good insight on how to communicate risks and best engage and connect with diverse communities in Barnet.”

Minister for patient safety, suicide prevention and mental health Nadine Dorries said: “Local authorities will be vital in the effort to contain Covid-19 at a community level. The pandemic requires a national effort but that will only be effective as a result of local authorities, working hand in hand with Public Health England and contact tracers to focus on the containment of local outbreaks, in order to control the transmission and the spread of the virus.

“For contact tracing to be effective when it is rolled out, we will need people to continue to follow guidelines and stay at home if they have symptoms.”