More than 2,000 people in Powys, and elsewhere in Wales, who tested positive for coronavirus during December have been told to self-isolate by Powys County Council's contact tracing team

A team of more than 160 council employees worked every day throughout the month – including Christmas Day – to help stem the spread of the virus.

Calls have been made to Powys residents and to those in other parts of Wales as part of a partnership between the council and Powys Teaching Health Board.

During December, 98 per cent of the 1,076 people who tested positive for coronavirus in Powys were contacted and told to self-isolate. This helped to identify 3,458 people that they had been in contact with, with 97 per cent of these told to self-isolate.

Cllr Graham Breeze, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, Engagement and Regulatory Services, at Powys County Council, said: “Powys’ Test, Trace and Protect service has performed well from the start and I’m really pleased to see that these excellent standards have been maintained as we have taken on more work, which has included providing support to other local authorities in Wales.

“The staff involved are playing a vital role in helping to control the spread of Covid-19, both locally and further afield, as we battle with rising infection rates, and I would urge all who are contacted by them to heed their instructions and self-isolate."

As of Monday (January 11), the council will be employing 58 contact tracers and 104 contact advisors within its Welsh Government-funded Test, Trace and Protect service.

Cllr Breeze added: “This service is also providing much needed employment for some of those who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic and is a fine example of what can be achieved when public bodies work together.”