A total of 26,985 people have been told to isolate by the government's contact tracing system, the Department of Health has said.

Between 28 May and 3 June, 8,117 people tested positive for COVID-19, and around two-thirds provided details of people they had come into close contact with to the government scheme.

Some 31,794 contacts were identified by the system and around 85% of these were able to be contacted and told to stay indoors.

The test and trace system is believed to be key to helping ease lockdown measures.

READ ALSO:

“I couldn’t take care of George the day he was killed, but I can help make sure that his death isn’t in vain - George Floyd's Brother Implores Lawmakers to Take Action Against Police Brutality

Baroness Harding, the head of the test and trace program, said the vast majority of people contacted have wanted to comply and provide contacts.

She admitted it was not yet at the "gold standard" but said it was now a "functioning service".

A number of contacts were not able to be identified as the contact details for some of those who tested positive for coronavirus were unavailable or incorrect, or they did not respond.

In other instances, the patient refused to provide details of their contacts.

Sky News