Is anybody else actively avoiding being tracked and traced?

[Asterion]

I am actively avoiding anywhere that tracks and traces. Aside from having DC at school, which obvs I have no control over, we don't go anywhere (pub, restaurant etc) where they would need to take our details.

Reason being, I don't want to be at the mercy of someone who may have rocked up to that place and is now infected. It's more to do with the absolute balls-ache of having to self-isolate than a desperate fear of Covid, although you can never tell how you would get it.

Anyone else avoiding T&T?

So, I do answer calls and so does everyone else I know.

My grandad unfortunately does too, now I think of it, but he is 80+ so I suspect older than you. And has the start of dementia, so that's fun. But it's pretty common for people to have had nasty or prank calls from withheld numbers too, so this is another reason why so many people avoid them.

@Jocasta2018

I use the App to check in somewhere but I've disabled contact tracing... Seems a good balance!

Not a good balance at all, total waste of time if you’re not prepared to be contacted and isolate if necessary.

@CrocodilesCry

I don't understand why people are so worried about being alerted by Test and Trace. Surely your fear should be actually being exposed to Covid-19 by someone who has tested positive? It's blowing my mind that people don't want to know if they have been close to someone who has tested positive. But they fear being told to self isolate because of the inconvenience?

My thoughts exactly.

I cannot believe the number of people on here (and that’s just a small sample of the general public) that are coming up with all sorts of excuses not to follow the government’s guidelines. Truth is, there are no valid reasons not to download the app, just pathetic excuses. Like you say, they are more scared of being tracked and traced than they are of contracting the virus and potentially passing it on to someone who is vulnerable. The mentality of these people is quite baffling.

@DilemmaDerby

Yes I refused at a hotel I stayed at for work.

Why?

ilovemypantry do you genuinely consider not having a compatible phone to be a pathetic excuse?

@Pinkfluffyunicornsdancing

The app means nothing anyway. I know someone who was contacted by the app to self isolate because of a positive case at work, via the app. Their workplace insisted the app isn't legally binding and they have to go to work. So if isolation via the app can be dismissed without a fine then what's the point. Their workplace stated that if contacted via email or telephone call then they will be required to isolate and work from home. But because it's the app, they take sap or holiday or go into the office.

What a diabolical company to work for! I would imagine they can be fined and possibly even closed down because they are not operating a Covid safe environment for staff if they are insisting that they must go into work even though they’ve been contacted and need to self isolate. If I was that member of staff I would have blown the whistle to the local authorities.

Well for a start my phone is too old to have the app. How is that not a valid reason not to download it? My mum has a phone with no internet, my dad has no phone at all. All pretty valid reasons not to have it.

Self isolation isn’t just inconvenient, to many it would impact hugely on their life financially. We could just about manage it once(although after several months on furlough we already playing catch up money wise) but if it happened repeatedly then we would end up in real financial difficulty. This is why people are worried about being contacted by t&t.

@FeckOffCup1

ilovemypantry do you genuinely consider not having a compatible phone to be a pathetic excuse?

No, obviously if you don’t have a phone that will support the app then you won’t be able to. I’m talking about all the other pathetic excuses.

Ilove - I think you’ve misunderstood. If people are avoiding test and trace by not going to places that require it this is a more effective way of avoiding exposure to the virus than going to the places and then being contacted when exposed! I’m not using the app - but I’m not going anywhere other than school. I’m reducing my chance of being contacted by trying to reduce the risk of exposure. Giving false details is entirely different - and stupid.

Yes, having a phone that isn't new enough to download the app is a pathetic excuse. Stop being poor and/or old, peasants.

And if they report and it gets closed down then they have no job.

Don’t have the app and never will even if an random anonymous person on Mumsnet thinks it’s “pathetic” not to.

Why are people so concerned what others are doing , if what your doing works for you continue doing it , if others feel like going to the pub then go for it , its allowed within rules in most places
But remember some don't have that luxury , they have to work in the supermarkets or in the hospitals , schools etc
People need to just do what works for them and leas judgement to others unless being totally irresponsible

@Thesearmsofmine

Well for a start my phone is too old to have the app. How is that not a valid reason not to download it? My mum has a phone with no internet, my dad has no phone at all. All pretty valid reasons not to have it.

Self isolation isn’t just inconvenient, to many it would impact hugely on their life financially. We could just about manage it once(although after several months on furlough we already playing catch up money wise) but if it happened repeatedly then we would end up in real financial difficulty. This is why people are worried about being contacted by t&t.

If your phone is incompatible then obviously you won’t be able to do it, goes without saying. If you struggled with furlough imagine how you would struggle if you caught Covid and couldn’t work, especially as many people are suffering long term effects after contracting the virus and this could mean several weeks/months not being able to work.

But threads like this with all those giving false details complaining about app shows why we won't get under control like china etc so people need to remember why and not compare

@timeforanewstart

Why are people so concerned what others are doing , if what your doing works for you continue doing it , if others feel like going to the pub then go for it , its allowed within rules in most places But remember some don't have that luxury , they have to work in the supermarkets or in the hospitals , schools etc People need to just do what works for them and leas judgement to others unless being totally irresponsible

Because what others are doing can impact on everyone else. Nobody lives in a sealed bubble so we are all reliant on each other to try and keep everyone safe.

ilovemypantry literally millions of people don’t have a compatible phone. It’s not a very small number of exceptions. You can’t say everyone is just using pathetic excuses when millions of people can’t use it even if they want to.

@Funkypolar

Don’t have the app and never will even if an random anonymous person on Mumsnet thinks it’s “pathetic” not to.

👏👏👏 well done you...you stick up for your god given right to do whatever you like regardless of how it might affect everyone else.

@Ilovemypantry i clearly said unless someone is behaving itresponisbily
But if i go to the pub if you Don't it doesn't affect you , if you stay at home that doesn't affect me
But its like the people who are never going out think they are superior some of us can't work from home , doing an online shop you are still expecting driver ans staff to be at risk
If we all follow guidelines but to what we feel comfortable then it is no ones business just because some prefer to stay in and others may rather go out

If your phone is incompatible then obviously you won’t be able to do it, goes without saying.

And yet you didn't say it until you'd spewed out some nonsense and it was pointed out to you how stupid you were being.

@ilovemypantry yes it would be a massive struggle as would having to self isolate repeatedly. It is a huge luxury if you do not have to worry about self isolating.
The majority of people do not want to catch COVID, hence all the talk on this post of avoiding places as much as possible so they don’t come into contact with it but of course there are places you cannot avoid going and it is a big concern for many people that they may be traced and have to isolate which will lead to difficulties financially. When people dismiss this and call people pathetic for being worried they are dismissing all those people who are out doing the low paid jobs you take for granted, the retail workers, the nursery nurses, the hairdressers etc etc.

@FeckOffCup1

ilovemypantry literally millions of people don’t have a compatible phone. It’s not a very small number of exceptions. You can’t say everyone is just using pathetic excuses when millions of people can’t use it even if they want to.

Sorry, just to clarify....not having a compatible phone obviously can’t be helped and so would be a justified reason not to download the app. Anything else...not a justified reason and just a pathetic excuse.

And i don't have the app because my phone isn't able to have it as its too old , albeit only a couple years
Would happily have it if i could or the goverment want to give me a new phone ,and do leave my details when i an out
But would of expected app to be compatible with more phones that it is

@CrappleUmble

If your phone is incompatible then obviously you won’t be able to do it, goes without saying.

And yet you didn't say it until you'd spewed out some nonsense and it was pointed out to you how stupid you were being.

I thought it would have been obvious to anyone with half a brain 🤦‍♀️

Again too much judgement you do what works for you and your family within the guidelines as we all have different risk factors and different circumstances etc
For example i need to go out for my mh that is as big a risk to me if i deteriorate than covid , but i do whats allowed within the rules so as not to risk others also