To not know whether I need to isolate - no wonder it spreads!

[lurchersrule]

Before I start, I will be isolating, so there's no need to FFS me etc. However, I'm not at all sure that I must and therefore I think the rules are unclear and this must be contributing to the spread.

I was last in work on Friday and spent a couple of hours, mainly socially distanced, but not always completely possible for shortish times, from a woman who today emailed my work account, that I'm not obliged or even encouraged to check while I'm off, to say that she tested positive yesterday. It seems she first felt unwell at the weekend but didn't get any of the main symptoms until Monday and got her positive yesterday. It's just a 'heads up' type email from her.

I've been out and about (all within the rules, just shopping a bit in tier 2 area I live in) all week and have received nothing official. I've not been contacted by Test and trace and the NHS website seems to imply that as such I don't legally have to isolate, though I may want to, or something like that.

I've never thought about this before, but do you have to have the app to be contacted by them? I have the app, but if the woman hasn't, or hasn't listed me as a contact, does that mean I won't ever be legally obliged to isolate? It almost seems pointless now as it's nearly a week since I had the contact, but I definitely think I'm at risk due to the length of time and the nature of the time we spent together.

Just seems to me this is quite a big gap a lot of people must be falling through. Just to be clear, I'm not at all blaming her (though I kind of did wonder whether she should have emailed when she got the first covid symptoms, not that I would have seen the email...). We don't have each other's numbers and I'm not the only colleague she emailed. I thought when you get a positive result something official would automatically kick in, but it seems it's all left to individuals and therefore chance.

Also, ex is meant to be having the dc for a few hours tomorrow so I'm going to let him know as he lives with elderly parents, one of whom is quite frail. But knowing him he'll insist on still seeing the kids, which I think is wrong but won't be against any rules...

It's a bit shit isn't it? .

The app, and the manual system are completely separate. The app will only notify you if you both have it, she's entered her test result, and you had your Bluetooth on. The manual test and trace system will only phone you if she's notified them about contact with you. They're meant to pick up two different ways of contact / assessing risk. Fingers crossed all is fine.

It is ridiculous .

T&T must miss so many people and then as you say, it's often too late.

Contact tracing is fraught with problems whichever way it is done. And yes it’s very clear how the spread happens. The hope is that test and trace reduces the spread not stops it (which clearly can’t be done).

Roll on the vaccine 😢

My DH was contacted by track and trace on Tuesday and told he has to isolate until tomorrow (a colleague has tested positive but it took 5 days for her test to come through) so for the earlier 5 days of his isolation DH had no clue and had been in Sainsbury's!

DH was positive this morning as as part of that you get sent a link where you have to set out exactly where you have been (both since symptoms and in the period before they suspect you caught it and where contagious).

That then should send through an email to you stating that you need to isolate and until when

Where is YOUR common sense and YOUR responsibility to others. Why do you need someone to tell you that you should self isolate

If she got symptoms on Monday and you saw her on Friday I’m pretty sure you don’t have to isolate. Don’t you go back 48 hours from your first covid symptom?

I think it’s only if you have contact in the 48 preceding their symptoms.

I’m not sure what’s going on with track and trace, they called to tell me my 7 year old daughter has to isolate. No one else (this was 3 days ago), it wasn’t school and the only place she has been since school finished was swimming last weekend and they confirmed it’s not them.

No one else has been in touch. So no idea what that’s about or where her contact was from. She hasn’t been anywhere on her own.

We have kept her home regardless and it doesn’t really matter as we are tier 4 and not seeing anyone anyway but has made me question what’s going on and if errors can be made.

Pipe down @user1471505494 op has already said they will isolate. Op was just raising a point about how easily people can slip through the track and trace net.

@user1471505494

Where is YOUR common sense and YOUR responsibility to others. Why do you need someone to tell you that you should self isolate

Did you miss the bit where OP has already said she will be isolating?

@user1471505494

Where is YOUR common sense and YOUR responsibility to others. Why do you need someone to tell you that you should self isolate

Oh honestly. What happened to YOUR reading skills?

Where is YOUR common sense and YOUR responsibility to others. Why do you need someone to tell you that you should self isolate

Where is YOUR ability to read a thread properly?

Oops cross post @Nikhedonia

I did a random test at work that came back positive. My only symptom was a headache, that I thought was my normal
Hormonal one. I worked for two days not knowing I was positive!

I know what you mean OP, friend's DH isolated because the app notified him a colleague was positive. Other colleague didn't have the app so didn't isolate 'because he wasn't told to' no common sense.

I agree OP, it's not a good system. when the app told me to isolate one of my friends said well you don't legally have to do so. That's true but it's not a good attitude. I wouldn't bother having the app if I was going to ignore it.

Contact means