Will you be getting the track and trace app? If not, why not?

[FairIsleFenella]

I've downloaded it. The only info I had to give was the first half of my postcode. I'm happy to use it, I have nothing to hide! However, I know there will be people who are unhappy to use it. If you are one of them, please tell me why. Is it a civil liberties issue?

I'll download it when the government says we have to. I can't ever see the government being efficient or effective enough to get cases down to 0. It's far too widespread.

Track and trace would have been excellent in March. It's just far too late now.

I haven't downloaded it yet. I work in the NHS and know what NHS software is like! I suspect there's going to be a lot of bugs in it that will need sorting out before it's really useable as an app.

Mainly I'm worried about false positives. Since it seems like it's all anonymous and you don't have to 'prove' your test result, it all seems a bit pointless. All you need is some hypochondriac to enter into their app then they have covid when they've got the sniffles, and you'll get a self-isolation alert. Ditto what if some bored teen or drunk moron enters into the app that they have covid 'for a laugh'. And what if you happen to get stuck in a traffic jam and someone in the car next to you later puts in that they have covid. You're presumably going to get an isolation alert even if you never had any contact with them? Ditto for visiting someone in customer services in a shop who is behind a screen, etc....

I'm kind of proving your point there, aren't I, @RedToothBrush!

@HalloBrian

I'm kind of proving your point there, aren't I, *@RedToothBrush*!

Yep.

@Baaaahhhhh

But RedToothBrush the whole point is regardless of whether you get a negative test or not, you still have to isolate for the 14 days. Getting a test is not a get out of jail card.

I agree, the app is not as flexible/detailed as we would wish it to be, and is not linked to any NHS services, the original one was, but that was deemed too intrusive. We got what we asked for.

I thought that it was:

Symptoms - isolate - test - if negative then stop isolating.

Compared to

In contact with a positive - isolate - don't test (but even if you do test you still have to isolate for 14 days from contact.

@KitKat1985

I haven't downloaded it yet. I work in the NHS and know what NHS software is like! I suspect there's going to be a lot of bugs in it that will need sorting out before it's really useable as an app.

Mainly I'm worried about false positives. Since it seems like it's all anonymous and you don't have to 'prove' your test result, it all seems a bit pointless. All you need is some hypochondriac to enter into their app then they have covid when they've got the sniffles, and you'll get a self-isolation alert. Ditto what if some bored teen or drunk moron enters into the app that they have covid 'for a laugh'. And what if you happen to get stuck in a traffic jam and someone in the car next to you later puts in that they have covid. You're presumably going to get an isolation alert even if you never had any contact with them? Ditto for visiting someone in customer services in a shop who is behind a screen, etc....

People stealing someone else's phone and setting it to 'i've got symptoms' to trigger a self isolation alert and fuck up everyone else passing?

Na, that'd never happen in the real worl would it?

Its almost as if who ever dreamt up the concept of the app has never been down the pub with their mates...

I thought you have to enter a code the test centre gives you when you get a positive test - you can’t just pretend to be positive to mess around.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

I thought you have to enter a code the test centre gives you when you get a positive test - you can’t just pretend to be positive to mess around.

I don't know .

But the app automatically sets you to 'isolate' if you put in symptoms but don't then put in you've tested negative. And there is no override facility.

Which will screw up enough people.

100% agree @RedToothBrush. Unfortunately I just don't have enough faith in people to use the app responsibly to want to download it.

Obviously however if I was contacted by an official test and trace centre and told to self-isolate / get a test because they can confirm that someone that has had close contact with me is covid positive then I have no objection to that. But all this anonymous / unprovable stuff on random people's phones I just don't have any faith in.

I've downloaded the app. According to it I have 6 days of self-isolation left because it won't let me log my negative test result....

Unlikely.
My phones storage is old and clunky. I really don't want to add anything that tips it over the edge.
I don't go to bars, the gym, hairdressers or restaurants.
My Bluetooth can pick up my terraced neighbours Bluetooth tech. I really don't want to be caught out as being in contact with them, I speak briefly and see them a couple of times a year.

@Anticyclone

It is truly frightening the about of misunderstanding and misinformation there is on this thread. However a lot of that is the current government's fault for losing large amounts of credibility and public trust through the many farcical missteps of the last few months.

I agree with this. No data from the app that identifies you as a individual is shared with the Government or any other party. Apple refused to support the original UK Government app because the Government wanted data stored centrally. Data is only stored on your phone.

I've already downloaded it.

However there are (were) so few tests available, how would anyone know that they had it? Does it inform the contacts of confirmed cases, or just anyone who randomly decides they might have symptoms?

Actually, I've just checked. It needs a positive test. So that seems unlikely... they're all but impossible to get hold of.

Those places refusing to allow people in without the app are going to start losing business if A, people refuse to download the app , B, people want to download it but it doesn't work, or C, people don't have a smartphone (like my parents. )

Also, are they actually asking to see proof that you have the app? Otherwise surely anyone could lie and say yes then waltz on in.

Yes, I agree with Anticyclone too.

I am not particularly impressed by the posters holding forth about the app when they haven’t bothered to find out the first thing about it, but public trust is valuable and the government have squandered it. You can’t put Dido Harding in charge of something given her track record and expect people to trust her. And you win trust by acting with integrity and consistency and that’s not something we have seen a lot of from Boris’n’Dom.

I’m giving the app a chance personally but I don’t blame people for not doing. And definitely don’t upgrade your phone for it, it’s really not worth it.

@BarefootHippieChick

Those places refusing to allow people in without the app are going to start losing business if A, people refuse to download the app , B, people want to download it but it doesn't work, or C, people don't have a smartphone (like my parents. )

Also, are they actually asking to see proof that you have the app? Otherwise surely anyone could lie and say yes then waltz on in.

I will avoid place that FORCE me to us it as much as I possibly can.

Anyone running a business should be mindful that with so many of them chasing and needing the business, many will vote for their feet.

*vote with feet not for feet

I won't go anywhere if i am forced to use it! I won't....and will just go elsewhere..

Sadly I have no faith in the Government any more so will not be downloading this app...

Dido Harding in charge of something given her track record and expect people to trust her. And you win trust by acting with integrity and consistency and that’s not something we have seen a lot of from Boris’n’Dom
Dildo Hardon
Borris's Johnson with Domination Cumming
that's where they all belong in some stupid porn flick

I’ve downloaded it but I have the tracing function off. I realised the only places I’m going at the moment are the school fun and Tesco, so it’s not actually worth it (we are in a lockdown area). I’d use it if I go into a restaurant or something. The risk for me is the kids at school, and they are too young to use the app anyway.

School run! That’s not fun at the moment that’s for sure

If anyone think thats its feasible to still isolate for 14 days after testing negative they are on glue

Precisely. We need to stop this nonsense that any negative test result must actually be positive, or you weren't infected enough yet. There may be some outliers, but for the sake of society functioning, we have to take a balanced approach. Test after 7 days, if negative, stop isolation.

I have the app but DH doesn't because he doesn't have a smartphone.

I've already had to tell two different facilities (leisure centre and a pub) that they cannot insist on the app for entry and must operate manual tracing too: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/news-and-events/news-and-blogs/2020/09/data-protection-guidance-for-collecting-customer-information/

@Figgygal

Got it yesterday it’s a mandatory requirement for my kids football

I refer you (and them) to this: ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/news-and-events/news-and-blogs/2020/09/data-protection-guidance-for-collecting-customer-information/and in particular "Organisations should not make the use of contact tracing apps mandatory, and should give people options to give their details for contact tracing purposes".

Its a pointless exercise which makes people feel like they're in control when they're absolutely not. Far too many missing pieces for this to be viable to work and I'm not playing the game. I'd rather just wash my hands and wear the mask that's how you actually stop the spread.

And keep 2m away from everyone.