Contact tracing in 'disarray' amid rising number of COVID cases

Opposition parties have said Scotland's test and protect system is in "disarray" after figures showed more than a quarter of cases were not closed within 72 hours.

According to figures from Public Health Scotland for the week ending July 4, in 26.8 per cent of cases it took more than three days for tracers to complete the final contact interview.

While that figure is down from 34.9 per cent the previous week, it means just over 73 per cent of cases are closed within 72 hours - below the World Health Organisation (WHO) target of 80 per cent.

The figures were published as it emerged there has been another 3,799 positive cases recorded in the past 24 hours, and five deaths. 

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: "It's clear that the SNP has lost control of the pandemic.

"Test and trace is in disarray and cases are spiralling.

"We cannot have the people of Scotland put in danger due to the failure of the SNP."

The Scottish Conservative's health spokesperson, Annie Wells, said: “It is clear that Scotland’s test and protect system is completely overwhelmed as a result of the recent surge in COVID cases.

“SNP ministers need to be upfront about their failings and admit they took their eye off the ball. A robust test and protect system remains a critical tool in fighting the virus, but the SNP Government have failed to ensure it has all the resources it needs.

“It is hugely concerning that we are now falling well below WHO standards to close 80 per cent of cases within three days. That flies in the face of Nicola Sturgeon claiming that the system was coping well only a few days ago."