Notification from Test and Trace - what on earth?!

[theodorasgusset]

This notification has just popped up on my phone. No further information in the app.

What the hell am I supposed to do with this, does anyone know?!

It sounds as though...well as it says really. Someone you've been in close contact with has reported a possible positive test, so test and trace are currently checking out how long you were in the vicinity of the person, how close you were etc before advising you of whether or not you are at risk of being potentially infected.

The Department for Health said the phantom notifications which disappear when they are clicked on are not part of the app but from Apple and Google exposure notifications, and users shouldn't be alarmed.

Maybe get a higher signal strength the closer you get to the other person so it can judge if you are closer than 2m?

It's the time period not the the distance. The app calculates a set distance, the strength of exposure is if you have spent time, less or more, within that distance with someone who's been in contact with someone.

This was covered in the press yesterday - if you can't find anything in the app itself telling you that you've been exposed, what you've received is a test notification from Google/Apple and you can ignore it.

I had one and it gave me a bloody shock - I had my banner notifications set to temporary so it disappeared and I couldn't find anything in the app . Finally googled and found the press coverage.

I think it is pointless and worrying - and also potentially not accurate anyway. DH and I saw university DS on Saturday, DS got the second message on Sunday and was feeling unwell so tested, got a positive result on Tuesday a.m. and I have been getting the first message about possible exposure since Sunday evening. I have had it three times today and still no further update! Obviously I know where the "possible exposure" came from and DH and I have been self-isolating since Sunday but otherwise I'd still be out and about and possibly infecting people? How long is it going to be before the app tells me I need to self-isolate?! And if the possible exposure isn't as a result of seeing DS then it is even more pointless as we haven't been out since Sunday lunchtime.

I will definitely not be using this app, i’m just going to stay away from everyone.

What happens if, for example, you are standing by the roadside waiting to cross and someone who also has the app goes past in a car or is temporarily stopped by the same roadside, or something??? Would that not create a bluetooth connection? Even though there is no possibility of you being a close contact? Or is it so pinpoint accurate it can determine that the other app user is on the road, whilst you are on the pavement? HOnestly, I can't see how this sort of thing isn't riddled with bugs.

Would they be stopped there for over 15 minutes though?

I had this notification earlier, clicked in the app nothing there. Not been anywhere I wouldn't usually, only left the house for work. All work colleagues fine there's only 4 of us. Baffling but not great for someone with severe health anxiety!

I had it the other day, gave me a bit of a shock! But googling seems to confirm nothing more is needed from me and the app will specifically tell me if I need to isolate or anything.

I was in a busy shopping mall a couple days earlier so assuming it's likely I've been near someone (haven't been anywhere else!) who has now tested positive, but the data has shown I wasn't with them for a signifcant time!

If you go into the FAQ section of the ap it explains that if you get an alert which immediately vanishes its a test alert. Seems silly to cause unnecessary worry though

This is really not good for anxious people- they could be self isolating with each of these messages and testing etc.