NHS app says I must isolate for 8 days!

My daughter got a message last week on the app that she should isolate for 12 days. She is doing it because she does what she should. She works from home and since March has only been for walks outside until last Friday when she caught a bus into town and ate lunch in a restaurant nowhere near anyone else. She thinks it must have been the bus journey although apparently was two seats away from another passenger. She feels fine, no symptoms so no test and told children can continue at school and husband at work.

I agree about compliance but when your friends school informs her that her child has been in close contact with a class member who has tested positive and the gov guidelines are for the child to isolate for 14 days ( impossible with an 8 yr old to isolate within the home tho) BUT all other members of household can continue as per normal unless symptoms appear, without having to isolate AT ALL. It makes your 8day isolation seem pointless. I’m not saying I disagree with track snd trace , I use the system myself it’s just the different strokes for different folks is the confusing part and I can see why people don’t want to use it . A necessity no doubt but there’s no consistency regarding isolation at times in my own option .

My friend was told, by the app, to self isolate and started with symptoms the next day. The time line appears to be: contact with an infected person on Saturday, self isolation message on Monday and first symptoms on Tuesday. A week later she is still very poorly.

I downloaded the app. a few weeks ago, but didn't know what to do with it. I don't get out much, but recently have ventured to the independent cinema in my nearest town. It has ceased to take details from visitors. I went into a nearby cafe for my routine coffee and snack after. A member of staff showed me how to use the displayed square thingy and a number of other actions I have forgotten already. Strict distancing was observed here so I didn't feel in any danger. I don't really see how the app. is any use to me as I am isolated by living alone.

I have a test booked for today. Last night I tried to book a test and could have had one within the hour but I wondered whether I was jumping the gun. This morning, with mild symptoms and a dental appointment booked next week, I decided I should get a test. There were many appointments available, once again some within an hour.
Of course, proof will be in the speed of the results but I have been impressed so far in our area. It certainly wasn't the same in Bath for my son back in September despite students returning to Uni.

all very interesting - but was it actually the app that recognised you had been with the foot lady or the foot lady giving the track and trace guys your details and then you got the text?? That is what happened to my daughter. She too got the phone calls which she found reassuring. There have been cases of apps picking up 'contacts' through party walls, which of course is a nonsense.

Being contacted means you have been in contact with someone that has tested positive. Not necessarily in the past few days it could have been up to a week ago, depends when the test was done and how it took for results. Best to do as the nhs says and isolate.

Someone asked what the message looked like...

I received the part of the app that was automatically loaded on Android phones months ago. I did not and will not add the other part that will activate it.
I have been nowhere and I'm seeing nobody.
I agree its very big brother.
BUT if it worked even 50% of the time it would be worth it.
Sadly it seems to be more miss than hit..... a HUGE waste of money!!!

I have the app. I’ve had two proximity alerts but these were followed up by a message saying that I need take no action.

I have had several no action alerts while my OH has had none. With the alert you have had, you will clearly have to self isolate

I can’t get the app on my iPhone 6, it says it’s not compatible

I have the App and have used it when requested to check in at various locations, however not sure that I trust it as the other day I got an alert to say that the area I live in had moved into the next tier - High Risk - it has NOT! In fact figures have gone down in the past week. So would I believe it if it told me I needed to isolate? I think I would want further information.

I thought you only had to isolate if asked to do so by a real person from track and trace.

GrannyRose15

I thought you only had to isolate if asked to do so by a real person from track and trace.

Why would you think that?

I think the phrasing used in Scotland test and protect is more encouraging than the English track and trace for those who are uncomfortable about being “watched”. I endorse anything that helps keep us safer irrespective of the wording however. The App is to benefit us all, as individuals and collectively. It should work on all phones and we should all comply.

Unfortunately I don't have a smart phone so no App for me. I give my details if I were to go out to a Restuarant or similar, hairdressers but what happens if I pass someone in the street or on a bus who tests positive. If I had the App, and I was briefly sitting on a bus, more than two meters away that had someone who tested positive sitting on the bus too, would I be contacted? I don't understand what the boundaries are? Surely, you would not need to self isolate if you were no where near the positive person on the bus? Does anyone know how it works please.

My phone is too old to have the app. I was in contact with someone who had symptoms two days later and then tested positive. Track and trace have been in touch by text having got my number from my infected friend. I have been given the date that I have to isolate until and instructions on what to do if I need help with shopping. I do not need to take a test unless I start experiencing symptoms. All straight forward and easy to follow. If I do take a test I still have to isolate for the fourteen days regardless if it test negative. In now until the 17th November.

Isn’t this a repeat of the item I read yesterday?

Yes - I had one of those on my phone and immediately took action. This is the least I can contribute to these difficult times. Isolating is awful - but it is nothing compared to being in hospital.

I've also just had a message from the Covid app telling me I've been in contact with someone affected and that I must now isolate for 9 days. In the past 10 days, unless you count a daily countryside walk and I'm surrounded by fields here, I've only been to the hairdressers one week ago, followed by on the same day a 10 minute shop in M&S. It occurred to me to phone the hairdressers just to see if they know someone from their business has the virus, but on two counts I'm not going to do that. I think they're probably completely shut now anyway and I don't want to spook them or cause them any additional worries when they may not be at fault. They were super sorted over every single precaution when I was there and are a very professional outfit.

It may be that standing at the roadside waiting to cross the road afterwards I was standing next to someone affected, or indeed the person previously holding my basket when at M&S had it - it's impossible to know.
It's actually annoying too, as I was due to take a counselling test tomorrow with a neighbour (socially distancing of course) and can't now do this - but it is what it is and although I will be walking again today, I won't be near anybody else. I was isolating anyway since the 5th and will just continue to do so.

I am a bit puzzled.
I don’t know anything about serco but just wondered
why would it matter if they had developed the NHS app.

Marydoll

Could someone please enlighten me, just out of interest, where the evidence is that SERCO developed the app. As I have the Scottish NHS app on my phone it doesn't affect me personally.

This quote is from Reuters, the news agency.
Some Facebook users have been falsely claiming that outsourcer Serco has developed the NHS Test and Trace app.
The NHS website says the app’s development team has staff from Accenture, Alan Turing Institute, NHS Digital, NHSx, Oxford University, VMware Pivotal Lab and Zuhlke Engineering. It also says that the National Cyber Security Centre had an advisory role in developing the app.

However, SERCO is not listed, so why is this rumour circulating?
I have no opinion on it, just curious. I'm happy to have the app on my phone, if it helps save lives. I believe it's up to each individual what they choose to do.

I do feel it is unacceptable, that some phones are not able to support the app.

Accenture!!! That's put me off for a start. My husband started hating his last job when Accenture got involved in restructuring it.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I find that frequently if my phone has been off and charging in the night I have to reactivate Bluetooth to get the app working next day. I check automatically now.