A Port of Felixstowe contractor fears the failure of the NHS's Test and Trace system is putting people's lives at risk by failing to contact those who have tested positive.

Despite not having symptoms at the time, the worker, who has asked not to be identified, accepted an offer to be randomly tested.

Much to her surprise the test came back positive five days later on August 11, but has not been contacted by the Test and Trace tracking system, which latest figures show have failed to contact 20% of people who have tested positive.

"I got a text and an email saying I had a positive result," said the contractor who lives on the Shotley peninsula. "I thoroughly expected someone to phone me up to interrogate me about who I had been in contact with but there has been nothing.

"I'm really worried that is putting people at risk.

"I got the email about 4pm on the Tuesday. When I had heard nothing by the next day I called my doctors and asked what I should do, and they were very good. They contacted Public Health England, but still nothing."

Since the test the worker has developed symptoms, including a sore throat, increased temperature and sore stomach, but is not sure if it is Covid related or stress.

Given her restricted movement, the contractor believes she may have contracted the virus at work, and had already expressed concerns over the hygiene and failure of safe Covid-19 procedures.

She told Nub News: "I had not been shopping since last week of July, I had not even been to pub because I was concerned I could be a carrier, even before the test and I know there are a lot of vulnerable people about, so I have barely been out, except to go to work.

"I had been concerned about cleaning and people not social distancing at work and had been getting on to them about that.

"I'm told since I was tested positive more action is being taken. Some people are in self isolation and a lot more cleaning equipment has been made available."

Nub News understands some other the contractor's colleagues are now also in self-isolation.

A Port of Felixstowe spokesman said: "We have had a small number of confirmed cases but the last was several weeks ago. I believe an employee of a contractor at the port tested positive on or around 11 August but that was not a port employee. If an employee has tested positive they have not informed the port."

One of those Port employees who had been off work due to Covid-19 at the height of the pandemic told Nub News they had been impressed with the protocols and care the management shown towards them during his isolation at home.

"They were very understanding," he said. "Someone called every day to make sure we were OK. Although I tested positive I only had mild symptoms but there was no pressure to come back too early."

The latest NHS Test and Trace figures available show 4,973 people were transferred to the contract tracing system between 30 July and 5 August, an increase of 7% compared to the previous week, in line with the upward trend in people testing positive since the beginning of July.

Of those transferred to the contact-tracing system between 30 July and 5 August, 79.7% were reached and asked to provide information about their contacts. This has remained broadly constant since the middle of June.

20,638 people were identified as coming into close contact with someone who has tested positive between 30 July and 5 August, a 6% increase from the previous week. Of these, 74.2% were reached and asked to self-isolate, compared to 72.4% in the previous week. This percentage has remained approximately constant for the last 4 weeks.

If you test positive (you have coronavirus):

self-isolate for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started – even if it means you're self-isolating for longer than 14 days

anyone you live with must self-isolate for 14 days from when your symptoms started

anyone in your support bubble must self-isolate for 14 days from when your symptoms started

NHS Test and Trace should contact you by email, text or phone.

Text messages will come from NHStracing. Calls will come from 0300 0135000.