LATEST figures revealing further failures in the privatised test-and-trace system raised pressure on the government today to hand over responsibility to more experienced local NHS teams.

Just 60.3 per cent of close contacts of people who tested positive for Covid-19 in England were contacted in the week ending November 18 — the second lowest level in the system’s record.

This is down from 60.7 per cent in the previous week, and is just above the all-time low of 60.1 per cent recorded in the week to October 14.