Who has had the weird app notification about possible Covid exposure?

[Hopeisathingwithfeathers]

And what happened next?

I got one in the night last night and am incredibly anxious. Reading up that lots of people get it and it’s only a maybe unless it’s followed up with a message to isolate has not reassured me as I could be one of the ones that the contact gets verified. It doesn’t help that on Friday I went out and did the most I’ve done since this all started (all legal) including quite a lot of public transport.

So if you’ve had this ‘Possible Covid exposure, verifying exposure info’ thing, how long ago was it and what happened next?

A friend had one when she dropped her DD off at uni.
As she was then far away, and nowhere near the area again, she didn’t get another text.

Me, 3 times since downloading.

I’m in a Tier 3 area and still Shielding so I know these messages that just flash up are inaccurate because I haven’t been anywhere.

If you check the help info it tells you that these messages are just automatic tests to check the app is working. If it’s for real when you open your app it looks like a countdown for how many days you need to isolate for.

There seems to be mixed info on whether it’s a test or a ‘maybe’ for exposure. I was in train stations etc so could have connected with someone I was only near briefly. Though actually it seems quite soon as that was Friday and notification early Sunday morning.

I get it at least once a day, this week I’ve started getting a further notification to say there is no risk. Unless you get a notification say you need to take action then try not to worry.

If you get one of these "maybe" notifications do you have to isolate?

I think you just answered my question thanks

I have to walk through a crowded city centre to get to work, and I get one almost every day, as do all of my colleagues with the app who walk to work. No need to do anything.

@FastAndCurious I really hope I get a ‘don’t worry’ follow up. Thank you for sharing.

@VirginiaWolverine Wow that seems crazy! So does that mean someone somewhere in that city crowd had it? So weird.

I’m worrying as my DH is high risk so I don’t go anywhere or do anything really but this was important to me so I went. It would really be Sod’s law if I got it from my only proper outing in months.

@Hopeisathingwithfeathers I have only just starting getting the “don’t worry” message.

If you go into the app and there is nothing on the front page then you can safely assume that you weren’t close enough to be deemed at risk.

There’s nothing in the app at all. Plus I was in a mask the whole time apart from when I was at the house with the people I was visiting (and I think they’d have told me firsthand if it was them).

So from googling apparently I’m meant to get a follow up message of either don’t worry or isolate. Notification was just after 2am and nothing.

I get this every other day. Which is surprising as I don’t get out and about that much mid week.

Thanks that’s reassuring. I’m big an app sceptic and happily downloaded it but I seriously don’t need the anxiety of this stupid alert. Just feels like it’s not worth going out.

I've never had one. So doubt it's a test? Had the app from day one and live in an area of tier 1. I would imagine someone has passed by who has gone on to get a positive test. They then work out if you're at risk based on how long exposure was for etc? Just a guess. To the pp who said they are shielding. I'm guessing someone passed by close to where you live maybe?

I get them often. Open your app. If it doesn’t say anything it’s fine. If you need to self isolate it’ll be very clear.

I got both messages yesterday after dropping supplies off for a friends household where her husband tested positive.

I was encouraged that it seemed to suggest the app was working correctly.

I parked up and dropped a bag of stuff on the doorstep then got back in my car and rang her and she came out and waved. Presumably my phone “talked to hers” or her husbands which was plugged in the kitchen.

DH got the alert last Saturday at 2am. We cancelled meeting relatives outside and he rearranged work meetings just in case.

He got an isolate message the next afternoon.

He had been with his nephew the previous day.

We've now pieced together what happened:

Nephews GF tested positive- this triggered DH's warning.

Nephew tested positive- triggered DH's isolate message.

So in our case app did it's job well and has potentially stopped a chain of infection. DH was initially confused and a bit put out by the inconvenience, then once he'd calmed some he was very thankful.

I've had two so far. They disappear as soon as you click on them.

@Chaotic45 that’s really reassuring

I believe Bluetooth has a range of around 100m. I heard this message is your phone clocking someone who tested positive within the Bluetooth range to send to the NHS app for it to apply its algorithm and determine the exposure risk.

Apple are responsible for capturing the data to send to the app if you have an iPhone. You'll see the exposure notification functionality in your phone settings.

If that's true even someone driving past your house could be picked up by your phone. I don't think you have anything to worry about unless the NHS app actually tells you to isolate.

Yep, goes away when click on it.

I've had loads that disappear when I click on the app. I don't actually go anywhere really except work, but as I work in a school with high levels of covid positive students, I assume it's triggered by that, or by the neighbourhood the school is in.

Disconcerting when you first get one though 😬

Yes very disconcerting! The timeline doesn’t quite make sense though. Friday I was out till 4pm. Text Sunday morning 2am. So I’d have had to walk past someone Friday morning, them test that afternoon and her results within 24 hours or so, and then this triggered. Not impossible but seems unlikely.