App: is it unlawful not to isolate if alerted?

[Tatapie]

I'm concerned about reports of the app's inaccuracy. If you're alerted via the app do you get any details of the suspected contact with an infected person and do you HAVE to self isolate?

[BruceAndNosh]

You don't get details of the contact

[soupmaker]

Don't use the app. If you get notified and then don't isolate you might as well not bother.

[Tatapie]

@BruceAndNosh

You don't get details of the contact

Thank you

[Tatapie]

@soupmaker

Don't use the app. If you get notified and then don't isolate you might as well not bother.

True. I haven't downloaded it yet & trying to find out more about it first

[Lemons1571]

Surely there’s a middle ground that a lot of people would take. They might go to work as they can’t afford not to, but swerve the planned visit to auntie Mabel.

[Tatapie]

@Lemons1571

Surely there’s a middle ground that a lot of people would take. They might go to work as they can’t afford not to, but swerve the planned visit to auntie Mabel.

I'm not sure there is, you'd be making a judgment on the value of people's health and lives which I couldn't cope with!

[Dadnotamum72]

They cant have something thats voluntary and at the same time make an outcome of it compulsory.

Also if it was compulsory to isolate less people would sign up which defeats the object really.

I agree with the middle ground comment, sign up then make your own choices, not wanting to isolate but thinking I better not go to grans today has surely got to be better than doing nothing.

[Mindymomo]

If I got notified, I would isolate to try and stop someone else getting it. I am virtually isolating anyway, only going out to walk dog to get exercise. I have got the app but don’t really know how it knows who you have been in contact with.

[starfish4]

It's all about doing our bit and supporting eachother.

[Dadnotamum72]

Would you isolate if you knew you hadn't been near anyone for 15 minutes/ 2 metres, and thought the app had made a mistake.

[thisisnotus]

I got the app to see what's on it about my local risk level. I'd be surprised if I got an alert to self isolate because I'm not really in close contact with a lot of people. I probably wouldn't strictly self isolate but would minimise going out and be more cautious, the middle ground that PPs have said.

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

I don't have it but my husband uses it to check into the pub. But I do wonder how they know who to contact. For example last night we went to the pub for about 90 mins. Went straight to a table with masks on, spoke to no one apart from the waitress. If someone else was in the pub at the same time and tested positive, even if we didn't even go near them, would we get contacted?

[Yetiyoga]

This is my concern too. I went for food on Thursday, spoke to my friend who I was with (who would tell me if she tested positive) and the waiter. I didn't need the loo while there either. What would happen there?

As it happens, the bar code wouldn't scan so had to give details written down. But just giving an example.

[FinallyHere]

There doesn't seem to be any way to check out again. How do they know how long you were there, or whether you crossed over with the positive case?

Puzzled.

[LizzieMacQueen]

You can view your Exposure checks in settings. For me it is under the emergency SOS call feature.

I believe it keeps track of when your phone (not you) has been close enough to another's phone for at least 15 minutes.

When I look at my log it does kind of make sense, it notes when my phone is close to my DH's.

If someone tests positive who's phone is logged as being near your's then that's when you'll get a notification.

(Caveat that's my understanding).

[chocolatesaltyballs22]

Ah ok, that makes sense @LizzieMacQueen. Thanks

[RollaCola84]

@FinallyHere - this is my concern. Mr Rolla and I like to go for a pre drink in the pub on a Friday or Saturday. We might be there for 45mins / an hour and out by 7.30pm. We go by ourselves, sit at a table, only speak to server etc. etc. (no different to how we behaved pre covid tbh). If I check us in on the app but there is no way to check out and someone in there at 9pm tests positive will we be pinged as potential contacts ?

I don't mind the app in principle but I'm concerned over inaccuracies, mistakes and inability to check out meaning people are mandated to isolate without good reason.

[RollaCola84]

Pre dinner drink.... eye roll we're far from pre night out drinking twenty somethings

[Underhisi]

Self isolating cannot be legally enforceable because the phone may not have been with you at the time of 'contact'. In theory it is also possible it could have contact through a wall from the phone of someone standing outside your house for 15 mins.
All of my contacts would be people I know personally who I could ask/would have told me but if I got an unexplained contact I would be extra careful about social distancing for the next 14 days.

[HeronLanyon]

I haven’t downloaded the app and this thread is interesting - I don’t know much at all about how the app works.
Eg I visit a workplace occasionally where we (limited numbers) sign in and out with mobile no. Sometimes there are three or four of us in big building. I might not even see anyone else who is in the building. If I got an alert that on x date I had been in contact with someone who has now tested positive I would definitely want to know where and who. I my scenario I would definitely not isolate if o hadn’t even seen the person surely ???

[HampsteadHeathen]

@LizzieMacQueen

You can view your Exposure checks in settings. For me it is under the emergency SOS call feature.

I believe it keeps track of when your phone (not you) has been close enough to another's phone for at least 15 minutes.

When I look at my log it does kind of make sense, it notes when my phone is close to my DH's.

If someone tests positive who's phone is logged as being near your's then that's when you'll get a notification.

(Caveat that's my understanding).

I can't find this at all. Are you using the English app?

[LizzieMacQueen]

@HampsteadHeathen I'm using the Scottish app. So it's different for the English one then? The Exposure Notifications is in my main settings on my phone (iPhone) rather than the app.

[SoUtterlyGroundDown]

@Mindymomo

If I got notified, I would isolate to try and stop someone else getting it. I am virtually isolating anyway, only going out to walk dog to get exercise. I have got the app but don’t really know how it knows who you have been in contact with.

Yeah fab... if you don’t go to work. I’m sure many of us would be happier to isolate if we only had to exercise and walk the dog, but most of us have to go to work to keep a roof over our heads.

[canigooutyet]

The Exposure thing was put into general settings on Iphones in the last update.

I've switched it off. I've also switched off Bluetooth.
The government are contradicting themselves about storing info. They claim none of our info is stored yet go on to mention about storing info.

The App tracks your movements and like others have pointed out there is no way to check out. So if you have an alert to say you need to isolate they can check to ensure you are following this.

There is also little info about which QR system is used.

[canigooutyet]

To find out about your local area infection rate there are various online postcode checkers.
Some just give you numbers, others also give you info about if your in one of the watched zones, if various services are open etc.

If you are avoiding going into places at the moment and reducing your exposure why do you need the App?

If you're only going out for your walk or the dogs, why do you need to the app? We already know the risk of transmission is low outdoors as we walk outside.