Test and Trace only reaching half of contacts across Greater Manchester
Across Greater Manchester, the national test and trace system is only tracing just over half (53%) of contacts according to figures released by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
The data shows that in Oldham, the worst affected region, that only 47% of contacts are being reached.
The news comes as a major incident was declared on Sunday in Greater Manchester due to rising coronavirus rates and the region has extra lockdown restrictions in place.
Andy Burnham said during the press conference: "August is the month to fix test and trace. There is some emerging evidence of people reluctant to give their contacts, it's quite a low rate of names passed on - something isn't working."
Yesterday it was announced that Blackburn would be given missed contact tracing data so that the local authority could trace any unfound contacts.
In the week ending August 1 there was an increase in Covid-19 rates per 100,000 in every borough of Greater Manchester apart from Rochdale, although Wigan had very low rates compared to other areas.
Oldham had the highest rate, followed by Trafford and Manchester, in Bury the rate had almost doubled compared to the week beforehand.
Andy Burnham was joined at the press conference by the leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese.
He said that there would be "high profile targeted enforcement" of new restrictions in Greater Manchester such as looking at pubs not following social distancing and in supermarkets where customers are not wearing face masks.
The government defended the test and trace system earlier this week saying that it reached 80% of people who test positive and 75% of their close contacts.