NHS coronavirus contact tracers have ‘nothing to do’ – despite £27-an-hour pay

NHS coronavirus contact tracers say they have been left with nothing to do – despite being paid £27-an-hour.

The Government hired 25,000 workers to help trace those who had come into contact with someone who had tested positive for Covid-19.

However many of those hired to work in call centres have criticised the system, saying they have been left with very little to do during their working days.

Some have described the system as “shambolic” after initial technical glitches meant people struggled to get in touch with operators.

The thousands of workers have been trained in contacting anyone who has come in close contact with someone who had been tested positive for the virus.

Close contact is defined as within two metres for more than 15 minutes.

Those people will then be contacted and told to self-isolate for 14 days.

But some have said there hasn’t been enough work for them to do.

One nurse told The Times: “I have had absolutely nothing to do.

“I’m feeling tremendously guilty about doing the shifts and being paid and not having anything to do really.

Read more: NHS coronavirus contact tracers have ‘nothing to do’ – despite £27-an-hour pay