Coronavirus risk level in Hemel Hempstead remains 'medium'

The app, which launched last week, says the risk in Hemel Hemsptead postcodes remains 'medium' for the general public.

The app stats medium means the local authority, or a neighbouring authority, has high or rising levels of infection.

Local residents are asked to continue to follow the national guidance.

There are three levels of risk, low, medium and high.

It comes as contact tracers are reaching fewer than two-thirds of Covid-19 contacts in Hertfordshire.Data from the Department for Health and Social care shows 1,328 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Hertfordshire were transferred to the Test and Trace service between May 28 and September 9.

Coronavirus patients reached by the service are urged to give details for anyone they were in close contact within the 48 hours before their symptoms started, the NHS says.

A further 3,395 close contacts were identified in this way in Hertfordshire – also referred to as "non-complex" cases, meaning they could be dealt with through a call centre or online.

But the figures reveal just 63 per cent of those were reached by contact tracers over the period, meaning 1,241 people did not acknowledge they also needed to self-isolate.

Last week, the leader of Hertfordshire County Council and the leader of Herts Leaders - representing the 10 districts and boroughs - have sent an open letter to residents urging them to play their part and follow government guidelines.

David Williams and Linda Haysey wrote an open letter asking the public to follow the hands, face and space guidelines, and the new 'rule of six' for meeting people.

Under new rules, from September 28 people in England will legally have to self-isolate for 14 days if they test positive for coronavirus, or they are instructed to do by NHS Test and Trace.

Fines for non-compliance will start at £1,000, rising to £10,000 for repeat offenders, while people on benefits will be eligible for a one-off support payment of £500 if they face a loss of earnings as a result of having to quarantine.

To support the launch of the NHS app businesses and venues such as pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, cinemas, community centres and village halls should download a QR code for their venues to be displayed at the entrance to the building for people to scan themselves in.

To register your venue and download a QR code visit: www.gov.uk/create-coronavirus-qr-poster.