I've been pinged!

My bloke got a text saying he’d been in contact with someone contagious and to order a PCR. Clearly a scam. Beware. Don’t click on link.

So this morning got an iMessage to say I was a close contact with someone who tested positive. There was a link to order a test kit which was a bad link. Messaged the family on Messenger to ask if any of them had tested positive as they are the only people I have had close contact with. DD1 asked me to screenshot and when I sent it told me it was a scam to get you to buy a testing kit. The app pings you if you are a close contact not iMessage. None of them were positive. So beware of this! Rules have changed anyway now in all 4 UK countries. Test and Trace hasn't changed their guidance alongside the rules so very confusing.

I was told the date but not where, seeing I was at work 10am-10pm I'm assuming it was then. We are supposed to switch it off when at work as we are a 'Covid safe workplace' but since Covid has been rife all through lockdown etc and specifically in teams working closely together then PPE obviously isn't the golden bullet they say it is.

How do you know you have been 'pinged'? Do you need to keep checking the app or do you get a text message? Just wondered?
I keep forgetting to switch tracing off Whilst at work (I'm in PPE with my phone elsewhere - I am supposed to switch it off at work).
I think it would be useful to know when/ where contact occurred . I suppose that might breach some data protection?

I deleted the app ages ago as I don't agree with making people sef isolate while not telling them when and where they were in contact with the virus.

If you are fined for speeding you do at least get told when and where the offence occured.

I'd happily obey the restrictions if they said eg "you were in contact with a covid case on Sunday in Blackpool" .
Then I can check where I was on Sunday. Was it the football match or the visit to my gran.
I could then warn my gran to check for symptons and perhaps tear up my football season ticket!
Incidentally how do you know someone is really from Test and Trace and it is not just a scam especially if all you get is an email/text?

Well Hetty, as I haven't broken any rules I will carry on enjoying my life and supporting my family, Not to mention businesses.

love0c, so - you may have been infected - and passed it around as well?

The rules change as often as you change your clothes! It’ll probably be different again next week.

I didn't realise, I've never been pinged ?

Those are the rules. When you get pinged you are asked if you’re over 18, have you had both vaccinations and was it before 31-12-21. If you answer yes to those 3 questions you are told you don’t need to isolate.

LtEve

I don’t have to do anything. As I’m fully vaccinated I don’t have to isolate.

I don't understand this comment LtEve, I am fully vaccinated and boostered, I have even been isolated in that I had my foot in plaster so didn't go out but I still caught Covid and was quite ill after Christmas.

DH and I were pinged some time ago on a Thursday evening. It said we had been in close contact twitch someone on the previous Friday. We had been to a restaurant that day , but the person could have been in the same place hours before or hours afterwards, six day earlier!
We had no plans that weekend so we’re isolated for the next few days which was fairly pointless as we had been out on the days in between.
Fairly pointless app. which we have now turned off.

Exactly. All you do now is answer a couple of questions then it tells you that you don’t have to do anything.

If you’ve been vaccinated you don’t need to isolate even if you are pinged.

My husband was pinged a while back. The message said 'Please isolate for one day'. He did as asked to be on the safe side but the app was obviously pinging him too late.

I'm more curious why I haven't been pinged when DS and DD1 family had covid as they both gave our names to test and trace.

I’ve no advice re pinging, but just wanted to thank you very much for your service and everything that you do.
You have nothing but my admiration and respect LtEve
Thank you? ? ?

LtEve

The thing is I don’t. I’m a paramedic so have been up close and personal with the virus since it started and caught it in May 2020. It hasn’t scared me since I had it. I’m just intrigued as to how I managed to avoid getting pinged until now.

Certainly not low risk then LtEve thank you for the job you do it’s certainly not an easy one

The thing is I don’t. I’m a paramedic so have been up close and personal with the virus since it started and caught it in May 2020. It hasn’t scared me since I had it. I’m just intrigued as to how I managed to avoid getting pinged until now.

I have never had the app. Good job I haven't. I have been shopping, meals out, the gym, swimming with granddaughter, been to soft play with grandchildren etc etc.

It’s reassuring to know you move around in ‘low risk’ areas if nothing else LtEve.
I hope you stay well.

I had deleted the app so I wasn't 'pinged' but when DS1 got Covid he named me as a contact and Track and Trace messaged me with two different messages which I ignored and used my common sense, isolating for ten days after I'd last seen him.

Why would I want to delete it?

Delete it.

I don’t have to do anything. As I’m fully vaccinated I don’t have to isolate.