Or are my work?

[NC4Green]

Work in fast food restaurant, afternoon/early evening there is normally 30-40 staff rotated into shift.

A few weeks ago we had some get a positive COVID test, just a generic confidential work email sent out, no names etc, nobody who was in close contact with them told etc.

Had another, except this ones been kept hush hush, nobody told, not even people who were definitely in close contact with them.

Is this the right way of doing things?

Bump

It sounds wrong to me. Surely people who have been in close contact should be told to isolate? That's what's happening in schools.

If you all had the app on your phones it would tell you.

The guidance is that you shouldn't be told who has tested positive, but whoever had the test should give details to their employer and NHS track and trace of anyone who:
They have been within 2m of for more than 15mins
They have been within 1m of for more than one minute

Anyone meeting those criteria should be informed by NHS T&T to stay home.

No there is no reason you need to know about it.

The guidelines do not state you need to isolate because of "close contact", I continue to be baffled as to why people keep saying this.

You only need to self isolate if: you or a member of your support bubble has tested positive or has symptoms. Or if you are told to be track and trace. So unless you have been contacted by track and trace you do not need to do anything as presumably you are not living or in a support bubble with the colleague.

We don’t track and trace into work, we haven’t been told to.

Also I didn’t suggest we should isolate at all. I’m just saying shouldn’t the people who have been in close contact as stated above, 2m for 15 mins etc be told? So that they can do what they see fit in their own time? For example I wouldn’t go anywhere outside of work, visit my elderly parents etc if I knew I’d been in close contact of someone who had tested positive

Looking at the guidelines in Aroaringfire's post, your work are not following them! Which is wrong.

How do you think track and trace work it out? By people who have been in close contact! Thsts to a PP not you btw.

Yes they need to be telling employees who have been in close contact to isolate. I guess it's too difficult to find cover for that many people so they are keeping quiet, its understandable but that doesnt mean it's right. Our council has a part of their website where you can report businesses who arent following covid rules

Yes, as PP said track and trace will contact the close contacts as given by the positive case to them. Surely they ask them where they work, so they will act accordingly, and ask close contacts to isolate and watch for symptoms.
Other thing is that they may be held with delays. If you can, stick to work-home just in case.
I think the workplace is not meant to give the person's name.
It is very unnerving not to know!

I think you’re exactly right @OoohTheStatsDontLie they would struggle and realistically it won’t be long until someone else there gets it and so on, so they’re trying to stay open - which I totally get. I wouldn’t expect them to inform everyone, just the few that have definitely been in close contact with person X. If they don’t have to isolate I think it just gives them a heads up to be aware for symptoms and steer clear of any high risk areas - just incase!

We don’t track and trace into work, we haven’t been told to.

What does this mean?

@Derelictwreck

We don’t track and trace into work, we haven’t been told to.

What does this mean?

Really?

OP doesn't sign into track and trace at work as they haven't been told to.

But track and trace isn't just based on sign ins. That's the whole point of the app, it geotracks your phone to see which other phones it's close to for things like work.

Which company is it so I know where not to catch Covid from?

We’re not allowed our phones at work, OP may be the same.

So what if Test & Trace told your employer that close contacts would need to SI but your employer chose not to share this? Could this happen? If do then surely the HSE would be involved?

You can report employers to HSE I believe.

@Florencex and that’s the exact reason why cases are going up so high. No common sense behind these “rules”.

@Aroaringfire

The guidance is that you shouldn't be told who has tested positive, but whoever had the test should give details to their employer and NHS track and trace of anyone who: They have been within 2m of for more than 15mins They have been within 1m of for more than one minute

Anyone meeting those criteria should be informed by NHS T&T to stay home.

This.

You say nobody knows who tested positive, but also that nobody who was in close contact has been told to isolate. How would you know, if you don’t even know who tested positive?

If your work are following social distancing measures then no, there shouldn’t be any need for anyone to isolate.

But track and trace isn't just based on sign ins. That's the whole point of the app, it geotracks your phone to see which other phones it's close to for things like work.

The App only works if your phone has updated software. I have the iphone6 .. I cannot access the Track and Trace App.

OP you need to contact the NHS Track and Trace team or are someone else suggested HSE.

Please do not ignore this.

No wonder this virus is spreading. People above happy to rely on T&T when latest figures show that T&T is only reaching about 60 per cent of contacts.

Your work are being unreasonable. Speak to them and give them the opportunity to out this right, if they don't, report them.

@emilyfrost I obviously know who it is, but I’m not meant to. I know person X on a personal level.

We are allowed our phones but not everyone will have them on them and not everyone will have the app - our work haven’t enforced this so I suppose it’s just who is sensible enough to download it and keep it. Also as PP said, who has a phone good enough for updated software.

I know for a fact that 3 people were in close contact with this person, sometimes without a mask as it was lunchtime etc.

Thank you for all the comments I’ll take them on board with my employer.

forget your employer... go straight to Track and Trace

Also I will say, my work are following social distancing rules as much as they can when working in a restaurant, that’s not really the issue, but when people take lunch, when we have meetings, when 2+ people are in an office space it does mean we’re not exactly a metre apart at all times. When we’re eating we’re maskless obviously etc.

My AIBU wasn’t that everyone who looked at him should isolate, it was should people who were definitely in close contact be told. Even if they still have to work and don’t have to isolate, surely it would mean they have to cut back on certain things for example going to a care home, going to the hospital unless necessary, visiting elderly family members etc.

but when people take lunch, when we have meetings, when 2+ people are in an office space it does mean we’re not exactly a metre apart at all times.

There should be ample space for people to be able to take lunch and have meetings in a socially distanced way, and no more than a singular person should be in a small office space. If you can’t stay the required m apart from each other you shouldn’t be open.