This week, NHS Test and Trace returned 97.2 per cent of in-person test results the next day after the test was taken, compared with 93.7 per cent the week before.

Turnaround times for most testing routes are now returning to levels not seen since the middle of 2020, when testing demand was around a quarter of its current level.

NHS Test and Trace has successfully reached 86.4 per cent of the people who received a positive test result, and 93.6 per cent of their contacts, making a real impact in breaking chains of transmission. In total during the week of 21 January to 27 January, 507,692 people who had either tested positive or been identified as a recent close contact were reached and told to self-isolate – people who might otherwise have gone on to unknowingly spread the virus.

With more than 850 test sites in operation, including 474 local test sites, people are travelling a shorter distance than ever before to get a test. The median distance travelled for a test is just 2.1 miles, compared with 5.1 miles as recently as September.

More than 300 local authorities have joined forces with NHS Test and Trace to launch local tracing partnerships, combining specialist local expertise with the data and resources of NHS Test and Trace. These strong partnerships enable NHS Test and Trace to go further in supporting people who have tested positive for coronavirus and tracing their recent contacts.

Health Minister Lord Bethell said: “NHS Test and Trace is continuing to deliver record-breaking results. Thanks to the hard work of all those involved, we have been able to improve turnaround times for most testing routes to record speeds. These numbers are hugely impressive and have an enormous impact on the spread of the virus.

“We are also continuing to carry out a significant number of LFD tests, identifying people who are infectious but not showing symptoms. Around one in three people with Covid-19 do not display symptoms. This means every positive LFD test helps us break a chain of transmission we wouldn’t have identified otherwise.”