Teachers being told to turn off NHS contact tracing app at work

[NebularNerd]

Has anyone else had this?
Presumably to avoid too many staff having to isolate if someone tests positive.

Yes my friend is a deputy head at a secondary, and was told by his head not to download the app, as they couldn’t afford to have any more staff off.

We’ve not been told to turn it off.

My NHS friends are told to turn it off when wearing full PPE though

I don't have it so a non issue for me.

I wonder what unions would say about this. Surely school staff need to know ASAP if they have been exposed so they can isolate and not spread it round schools? How does duty of care match up to this?

I won't be turning it off. I don't see why there should be a separate rule for me because I am a teacher. And I have an ECV husband.

We were told that it was to reduce false 'contacts'.

Our phones are kept in lockers or in the staffroom as they can't be used in class. It means that your phone may register a colleague's phone as being in contact even if you haven't physically seen them since the start of term.

No idea how true that is.

Dh is a police officer and his inspector told them not to get the app. Or if they did, advised them to leave their phone in their locker.

Not a teacher but was told to turn it off by my osteopath as it could pick up anyone in the treatment room next door despite me not seeing them. It's not an issue for me as I've got contact tracing turned off anyway

We haven't, but phones need to be locked into cupboards in classrooms so they're always 2m apart even if we're not.

I wonder what other types of workers are getting advised to not download it.

My phone is in my bag which is with me at all times.

I read this on another thread, absolutely shocking. I understand for nhs staff in PPE or for example if phones are innlockers they should be switched off first. But surely if you're exposed, they want yiu to know!

I've not downloaded it, colleague picked up 300 contacts driving in on the M3. I don't go anywhere except school and I'm sure school would let me know pronto. I've not been given any direction by school, they genuinely want to do everything to keep infection risk minimal.

App has only pushed out one alert so far and Dido has said TT&T 'was never going to be a silver bullet'

We're screwed while these clowns are in charge.

How close were you getting to the car in front ;)

300 contacts on the M3? I thought the app was only triggered if you spent 15 minutes within 2 metres of someone who's tested positive??

And I guess the app must be pretty useless if it is churning out false contacts for everyone. This isn't something I've heard about if it's true.

This does not detract from how shocking it is to be told to turn it off, though, when the reason is that your workplace don't want you to have to isolate.

Not our school but I've heard about it from colleagues elsewhere. And not in a school where they have to keep phones in a locker. I think the NEU should get involved, they've been great over other stuff.

Our phones are in lockers in the staff room, so we would all be told to isolate, even if we hadn't seen the person who tested positive so I can see why.
If you keep your phone with you it wouldn't make a difference, you would be notifying or notified by track and trace if you had close contact anyway.

"App has only pushed out one alert so far" source please?

Nhs - also told not to. Many people not in ppe.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/nhs-coronavirus-contact-tracing-app-22817125

[quote wonderstuff]www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/nhs-coronavirus-contact-tracing-app-22817125[/quote]
That says only one alert naming the venue involved, there have been more than one alert! It’s just that the venues have been kept anonymous.

My mum works for the NHS (non patient facing so no PPE but works closely with other people who see patients and no social distancing in her office) and her boss told them not to download it as he can’t risk them having to isolate.

App has only pushed out one alert so far and Dido has said TT&T 'was never going to be a silver bullet'

? I know 3 people who have been asked to isolate by the app.

There was a news item about one school's staff being told this but our LA has told schools to "encourage" staff to use it, so either that head went off message or was misunderstood.

Schools have been told they don't need to display the UR for staff or visitors to check in becuase it's not necessary when everyone in school is recorded anyway.

Us and students have been encouraged. A rare school which is actually decent. Not a MAT.