What has been your experience of track and trace so far?

[Teacher12345]

Between me and DH, we have been to our local pub which has taken details every time (been 3 times between us), another pub DH went to didn't.
One arcade today made you text a number (at a price undisclosed unless like me, you are unable to text paid numbers on your mobile) for track and trace before letting you in, the other aracde we tried had no one on the door checking how many people were going in or wearing masks.
Cafe today, didn't take our details either.
So what is the point if half the places aren't even doing it and what is the consequence? If I tested positive tomorrow, and told T&T where I had been, and they contacted the cafe, what would happen when the cafe said they had no idea what the contact details were for anyone visiting at that time?

[Frazzled13]

Like you, I wonder if there are any consequences for places that don't do it. I mean, if they get a call and are asked who was there and all they can say is "umm no idea" does anything happen? Are they actually legally required to take this info? I know lots of people don't want to give the info, and might even give false info, but I do think places should at least try. I think it's clear from other countries that an effective tracing system is a really important part in opening things back up again.
I've only been to one restaurant (zizzis) and you put your details in on a webpage when you arrived, but they didn't check you'd done it, they just gave you the address and asked you to (I think there was a QR code you could scan with your phone and do it that way).

[nex18]

Everywhere I have been has taken details for track and trace. A restaurant that was book ahead only asked for all names and phone numbers when booking, one I have filled in a paper slip and put it in the postbox like Christmas cards at primary school but most places have QR codes to scan and do online.

[Pizzapromotion]

My only experience was a tea shop that asked you to write details on a sheet. It struck me that if you didn't want to be called, it would be very easy to give false details

[Teacher12345]

I never thought about people giving false details, thats even worse than people not trying to get details!

[canyon2000]

Track and trace is really good for following the progress of the delivery of your parcels by Royal Mail. Do you mean Test and Trace?

[Givemeallthewine]

I’m not sure I understand why people have ever been asked to give their details at restaurants etc anyway.....

Surely tables are 2m apart (hence why most places are only at 40% capacity), so if you tested positive after visiting the restaurant, the only people you would have been in close contact with for extended lengths of time was the group you sat with - whom you know personally anyway. Plus potentially the waiter / waitress. But that Interaction shouldn’t have been for long enough to warrant test and tracing them if a diner tested positive for Covid?

People on public transport don’t write down their details when they get on a bus or train, and I expect (from media pics of the London underground) some have sat right next to others for longish periods of time (admittedly more recently with facecoverings), yet have no chances of tracing each other if somebody tested positive.

[Teacher12345]

In theory, yes people are sat apart but I guess if I was infected and sneezed on my hands before touching a handle I could possibly spread it that way for the next person who came along after me. And if that person got a call saying I had tested positive, and had been in the pub at the same time as them, it would perhaps give them peace of mind for where they caught it although wouldn't stop them having to isolate and tell others they have been in contact with.
Plus, if you have been in the pubs, you may have noticed that not everyone gives a shit about social distancing.
I walked past one the night they opened and could see they weren't socially distancing in the beer garden. To be fair though it is hard to socially distance when you are fighting!

[Pizzapromotion]

I dont understand it either. There are all sort of people who might have touched a door handle I touch, but I wouldn't have to (or be able to) name them to a contact tracer.

If SD is being done properly in pubs and restaurants, no one would meet the 15min, 2m criteria the contact tracers need. If there is an outbreak around a restaurant, is everyone who was there required to isolate or just those seated nearby, who shouldn't have been close enough anyway?

[Givemeallthewine]

But anyone could sneeze and touch a door handle - entering a shop, supermarket etc. Granted the use of face masks should lower this route of transmission in settings outside of restaurants eg supermarkets, public transport, but I always felt the whole system of writing down lists of names & contact details in restaurants was purely a box ticking / arse covering exercise

[nex18]

@Givemeallthewine pubs and restaurants aren’t 2m distanced, they’re 1m plus, the plus being asking customers to give details. Like the plus in shops is now face masks.

[QueenofmyPrinces]

If you get a positive result, is T&T there to try and identify where the you initially caught the virus, or is it just there to contact people you may have given it to?

So how far back do they want you to go when they ask who you’ve been in contact with?

[Givemeallthewine]

@nex18 but (& do correct me if I am wrong) pubs and restaurants have not categorically been asked by the government to take details of every single diner / drinker entering their establishment for test and trace purposes?
I have to confess I haven’t been in a pub or restaurant since pre pandemic....I just assumed tables in at least restaurants (Not pubs) were attempting to keep 2m apart.

[ScorpioSphinxInACalicoDress]

Excellent. I'm in Italy and it's just the norm now. You go for a pizza, have your temperature checked, leave all phone numbers on the form.
Obviously there are going to be done places that don't do it, I wouldn't eat in them. Just this weekend in my (almost Corona free) region they traced an outbreak of 8 people to a birthday party so all now in quarantine and everyone at the party tested. The 8 positives all asymptomatic which is why T&T is so important.

[RedCatBlueCat]

I dont think I've been anywhere that has asked who I am, or for my contact details.

[MoreW1ne]

I've been to around 17-20 drink or food places. I'd say around 75% of those have a method for T&T, but only a couple try to enforce it (e.g. one place stood at the door with my whilst I text the number and another took details on paper on entry).

The others just sign posted me to the qr scanners/app details. And there was a few that made no obvious mention of it. I'm not sure if it's a requirement of places to do it (also dont know whether its dependent on other measures they have, so if they screens or 2m they're exempt for example.

I personally dont care either way. I fill the details in but dont really think its necessary based on all the other safety measures they've had in place.

Interestingly I've done this as the party leader and usually go with several friends/families/households and never give their details so not sure how this would work in a t&t incident.