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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To avoid T or T by turning my phone off when out

322 replies

pontypridd · 27/05/2020 19:34

Pissed off with hypocrisy of government.

I’m playing by the rules and still properly social distancing so there’s no way I’m self isolating for 2 weeks if they call me.

Can turning phones off when out avoid being radarred?

OP posts:
ifIwerenotanandroid · 27/05/2020 22:35

What are these strategies for people who hang up or refuse to engage?

I'm with bear - ever since this was proposed, I've been thinking about the ramifications & how it could be used & abused, at different levels of society (it's the kind of thinking my degree trained me to do). There are plenty of ways it can be abused for revenge, mischief-making, political gains, commercial gain, stealth taxes, eugenics, etc. Ignoring this is dangerous to individuals & society.

BamboozledandBefuddled · 27/05/2020 22:38

I agree with @TheWordWomanIsTaken The whole issue with Cummings revolved around whether we were dealing with 'guidance' or 'laws', and what was 'open to interpretation'. It's already clear that T&T is going to be as bad. Both Johnson and Hancock have avoided giving straightforward answers today. They've referred vaguely to 'rules' but have categorically refused to state what legal status those rules will have. Engaging with T&T will be voluntary 'to begin with' but may 'become mandated'. Exactly what will be mandated? Installing the app - when/if it's available? Being tested if you have symptoms? Isolating for 14 days, even if it means you lose your job? I want hell of a lot more clarity than something that says 'We won't tell you what the rules are but we'll punish you if you break them'.

And I'm disgusted with myself for having some sympathy with Hancock up until the last few days. I genuinely did think he was a better person than the Inner Circle but he's as big a lying, conniving, manipulative slimeball as the rest of them.

BirdieFriendReturns · 27/05/2020 22:38

It’s pretty hard to self-isolate when you lose your job and house due to...self isolating.

choosesoap · 27/05/2020 22:39

@pontypridd as you are on mumsnet , over the internet , via your IP you have already given the government huge amounts of Info, the fact you're on the net will mean they have access to your entire browsing history, location, passwords, bank details etc etc etc. this isnt going to change much for you

BrightYellowDaffodil · 27/05/2020 22:40

I will be absolutely scrupulous about not going within 2m of anyone, so if I get The Call I will be treating it as malicious or a mistake. Given that at least some of the Tracers (which reminds me of the Snatchers from Harry Potter) are employed by outsource companies who were training their staff by telling them to look at YourTube videos(as reported by the BBC last week) I wouldn’t trust them (collectively) as far as I could throw them, especially if they’re not going to tell me who it was who thinks they’ve been within 2m of me for more that 15mins.

OceanOrchid · 27/05/2020 22:40

What happens if a contact doesn’t answer their phone? I have mine on silent in a drawer at work. Friends and family know where I work though, so would contact tracers try to get in touch that way? I’m gonna have to get better at keeping it with me too - I’ve been known to leave it at work over a weekend and I don’t have a home phone.

I really want this to work - regardless of my absolute distain for this government, I can’t see any other way out of lockdown.

itsgettingweird · 27/05/2020 22:41

SSP?

Is that rule or if we have a sickness policy where we get paid for being off com will we continue with that?

If not I see a huge problem for people in schools and maybe manufacturing.

Take a teacher for example (and I'm not one just for clarification.)

Average teacher takes home approx £2200 per month.

1 case per month is school means if they only get SSP they will get approx £1300 a month. Basing that on 2 weeks wage and 2 weeks SSP.

But teachers get sick pay usually.

controversialquestion · 27/05/2020 22:42

What about when the rules change? Will you really remain 2m away from everyone even when we can meet family, and friends or may need to go back to work until a (hypothetical) vaccine is developed and rolled out? Not help a friend in need with childcare? Not send your kids to school? If you really are, ok, by for many of us it really isn’t feasible.

Hohofortherobbers · 27/05/2020 22:44

They'll rethink this crap once they've shut down an entire A&E dept as 1 staff member tests positive and the rest of team, the xray staff, the EMU staff, porters, domestics and receptionist are off for a fortnight

OceanOrchid · 27/05/2020 22:45

I see a huge problem for people in schools

The bigger issue for schools will be safe staffing levels if a significant number are isolating (this caused a few school closures before lockdown) and parents sending sick kids in because they can’t afford to be off work.

NELass · 27/05/2020 22:46

@Puzzledandpissedoff

If they don’t answer the phone, we call 3 more times and send out text messages and e-mails for you to complete the questionnaire online. You should get these before you get the call. If you don’t complete, that’s when we phone up

If you're already calling someone and then send emails/texts about a questionnaire, how does it work that folk "should get these before you get the call"??
I've read this post at least six times now and it still makes no sense - and this from someone who's presumably been trained to implement the sytem

Worrying ...

It is my understanding that You will get an email/text first to notify you and will contain information to fill in a questionnaire online. If you don’t fill in the questionnaire we will call you up. If no one answers, we will repeat the call 3 more times. We will then send email/text again if no answer.

I’m tired which is why my answer may have been confusing. I’ve been cramming the training but remember, we are all new to this but We are doing our best. I’m sure if I’ve made any mistakes, then another tracer will correct me.

callmeadoctor · 27/05/2020 22:48

What I really would like to know is how do they stop people from saying they have been near somebody they hate for 15 mins, how does that get checked if the hated person doesn't know who has dobbed them in as it were!!!

BamboozledandBefuddled · 27/05/2020 22:49

@itsgettingweird I'd assume it's up to employers if they pay out under sickness policy. I suppose if you tested positive you'd be 'legally' sick but you might not be deemed to be sick if you're isolating and awaiting results.

For those who don't appear to understand why others have concerns, read this. It's Johnson's waffle from this afternoon.

' Clark now asks if it will be compulsory for someone to stay at home if they have come into contact with an infected person, under the new test-and-trace system.

Boris Johnson says staying at home in that situation would be good "not just for them but also good for the population".

Clark repeats his question.

"We wanted to make it clear that people must stay at home," the PM says.

Will it be the law or just advice, Clark wants to know.

"We will be asking people to stay at home - if they don't follow that advice, we will consider what sanctions may be necessary," says Johnson.

"By the police?"

"Whatever is appropriate," says the PM.'

Now please tell me, clearly and simply, without ifs, buts or maybes what the exact legal status is with isolation under T&T.

user1471510720 · 27/05/2020 22:51

Is the OP thick? Social distancing never worked, was and is pointless Covid 19 was about as deadly as a bee sting and you’ve been playing by some made up rules?

Jokes on you.

MsRinky · 27/05/2020 22:53

So, what's to stop anyone testing positive saying they'd been in contact with, oh, let's say Dominic Cummings. Does he then have to isolate (properly this time) until the next person claims to have been in contact with him? We could lock the fucker down for months at a time...

BirdieFriendReturns · 27/05/2020 22:54

If it turns out that you’ve been closer than 2m to someone, do you get arrested?

I was thinking about this the other day, how many couples who don’t live with each other have met up and had sex. Or people have still been meeting up with dates to have sex. If a woman gets pregnant and she doesn’t live with her partner, will these be “reported?”

It reminds me of Dubai when I worked there. If you went to a clinic pregnant, outside of marriage, the obstetrician / midwife has to report you to the government. Local women are arrested and imprisoned. Expats are deported for sex outside marriage. Same goes for living with a man when you aren’t married.

A friend of mine was Emirates cabin crew, accidentally got pregnant. She resigned and gave her 4 weeks notice and kept flying so she wouldn’t get in trouble. Then she was able to leave and get her bonus money.

Another friend was pregnant and unmarried. She miscarried but didn’t seek medical attention for fear of arrest.

greathat · 27/05/2020 22:56

Just read an article saying they expect this to reduce cases by 5-15%. Not exactly the most effective system is if? I imagine most cases will be people in crowded public transport etc

greathat · 27/05/2020 22:58

rs-delve.github.io/reports.html

Clemmieandareallybigbunfight · 27/05/2020 23:00

I work in the nhs. A lot of my colleagues have tested positive. If we all stayed at home for 14 days each time there would be nobody at work.

Starlightstarbright1 · 27/05/2020 23:00

I will self isolate big necessary .

I am worried though.

I have worked throughout self employed- cm- less children income . If my Ds goes to school - someone catches Corona - I have to shut whilst he self isolates, if I am in contact with someone I have to self isolate- so yes I am concerned.

I won’t be downloading an app though. I don’t trust a word they say.

JamieFrasersSassenach · 27/05/2020 23:03

I will do 'the right thing' if I am contacted and asked to self isolate - because I don't want to put anyone else at risk.
But I do not trust Johnson and his band on merry men/women at all.
The lies and deception, and in the DC case - gaslighting, we have been subjected to are abhorrent.
I feel incredibly disempowered by our government.
And I won't be downloading or using any govt app when/if it becomes available.

Hohofortherobbers · 27/05/2020 23:04

Did someone say this is the most effective method as demonstrated by the USA?? Cos they've really handled this well Confused

StrawberryJam200 · 27/05/2020 23:05

@@greathat do you have a link please?

greathat · 27/05/2020 23:07

Yup I posted it straight after my comment

greathat · 27/05/2020 23:07

@StrawberryJam200 go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=rs-delve.github.io/reports.html