Why is test and trace details voluntary?

[itsgettingweird]

I had thought giving details for test and trace was part of opening up?

When we first started visiting places in July I had to complete forms.

Hadn't eaten out for a month or so for various reasons but this week been to a number of restaurants and cafes due to birthdays, days out etc.

1st - lead book had to give details.
2nd - QR code outside asking people to scan. Staff didn't even mention it.
3rd - QR code on table asking people to complete and if they didn't have smart phone to ask for paper copy.

So this is voluntary?

If so I don't really see how it's meant to work

England seems to have it as guidance. Scotland has made it mandatory to take details

Test and trace won’t work, people won’t quarantine for 14 days if they’re not getting paid.

Well it certainly won't work if no one even has to give their details to be traced!

Surely you'd have a chance of getting some people to quarantine if you'd traced them?

Or maybe people like me who can WFH are the ones who will voluntarily give details if asked?

It's not mandatory, because the data cannot really be adequately secured to protect everyone, and some people will very much be more at risk if their details are misused than they are because of COVID.

It's about balancing risks - if no-one chooses to do it voluntarily - and those of us with little to fear should do it - then the risk trade off will change and the people at risk will have to be excluded so as to make tracking more robust. Outbreaks attached to businesses like that will be well publicised at this point anyway so there's a good chance people will hear and can then choose to isolate and test themselves.

Yes it voluntary in England.

To tell you how pointless it is I was in a pub a few weeks ago, bloke came on who had been tested that day(Pillock) at midday but i went in at 9pm so would have had no connection to him and was socially distanced as was my normal before it became fashionable but got contacted.

Well yes I SD, mask in queue, only people I was near were family.

So realistically even under TT we weren't in quarantine rules.

Just seemed so odd to me we keep getting all these T and T stats etc and how it isn't working well and today I thought "well that's because no one actually has to sign up for it!"

Making it compulsory wouldnt make any difference. People who didnt want to take part would just give a false number.

You’re supposed to scan the code. Places aren’t supposed to collect your details on random bits of paper anymore; as it’s a privacy problem. I’m not sure what Joe Bloggs could do with your details that Cummings isn’t planning to, but I suppose that’s an aside!

Because we live in a democracy where individuals have human rights I guess.

Also, because it is voluntary there is no point.

One, it would have no teeth because people who didn't want to comply would give false numbers, as happens sometimes now. Two, it would likely put some people off going to pubs and restaurants and the government clearly want us all out there spending.

@HeresMe did T&T ask you to isolate? Or were they reasonable and agreed you didn’t need to?

That's what I'm confused about though.

All the goo hah about a world bearing test and trace and then the chorus of the song about still happening but need google and Apple etc.

The all these stats about T and T produced each week and how it'll control the virus and save lives.

Blah blah blah bluster blah.

Then no one actually has to comply.

I guess there is still the systems in workplaces and schools and nhs facilities, care homes etc. Places where people are tracked by the nature of the setting.

But where we've had reports of fuckwits people going to pubs whilst waiting for results or after testing positive it just leaves potential for outbreaks because no one present actually has to admit it!