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Original poster

App has told me to self-isolate - but haven't been anywhere?

116 replies

Covidaquestion · 29/10/2020 18:29

I've had an alert on the NHS Covid-19 app today telling to self-isolate until Sunday 8 November.

So counting back, that means I was in contact with someone on Sunday 25 Oct who has since tested positive and entered the details of their test in the app.

But I didn't leave the house on Sunday?

Any ideas please anyone?

OP posts:
JazzTheDog · 29/10/2020 18:54

@Covidaquestion

I've just had covid and all my contacts had to do 14 days from their last contact with me but in all cases the day of their last contact with me was day 1. But I'm in Scotland and there are possibly little differences?

ThisMustBeMyDream · 29/10/2020 18:56

Does it say that on the message?

RishiMcRichface · 29/10/2020 18:56

It's clearly the Saturday as you were out then and they have counted the days differently by 1 day.

Moondust001 · 29/10/2020 18:57

@Underactor

Also... If everyone ignores all the notifications and the advice then we are screwed and we might as well delete the app....
Or, in my case, not install it. I know exactly where I have been and who I have seen every single day. I don't need a government sponsored app to tell me what I know. Nor do I need one that gets things wrong and isn't reliable.
ThisMustBeMyDream · 29/10/2020 18:58

Ours said differently. Wonder if it has changed. Odd.

Original poster
Covidaquestion · 29/10/2020 18:58

[quote JazzTheDog]@Covidaquestion

I've just had covid and all my contacts had to do 14 days from their last contact with me but in all cases the day of their last contact with me was day 1. But I'm in Scotland and there are possibly little differences?[/quote]
Thanks Jazz. I even counted it that way and I only left the house on the Monday to pop to the shop - wasn't even there for more than 15 mins so still baffled how I could have been in sufficient contact with someone.

It pees me off because I believe in the app and doing the right thing - but it just can't be right. I'd accept it if I'd been for a meal or to a pub, but I haven't. I've had no close contact with anyone.

OP posts:
girlsyearapart · 29/10/2020 18:59

Myself and dh both currently have covid and the track and trace asked us for close contacts for the 48 hours prior to symptoms so that was the only part with names.
The next bit asked for places we had been to not who with ?

Original poster
Covidaquestion · 29/10/2020 19:01

@girlsyearapart

Myself and dh both currently have covid and the track and trace asked us for close contacts for the 48 hours prior to symptoms so that was the only part with names. The next bit asked for places we had been to not who with ?
My alert has come from the app Girls, so it's based on my phone being in close contact with someone else with the app who has since tested positive.
OP posts:
Original poster
Covidaquestion · 29/10/2020 19:01

@girlsyearapart

Myself and dh both currently have covid and the track and trace asked us for close contacts for the 48 hours prior to symptoms so that was the only part with names. The next bit asked for places we had been to not who with ?
And get well soon, hope you're ok and not feeling too grotty.
OP posts:
Original poster
Covidaquestion · 29/10/2020 19:03

@ThisMustBeMyDream

Does it say that on the message?
Yes - self isolate for 11 days until 23.59 Sunday 8 Nov.
OP posts:
CovidClara · 29/10/2020 19:07

If you have not been contacted by track and trace then you do not have to isolate.

PseudoBadger · 29/10/2020 19:07

It's less than 2 metres for 15 minutes or less than 1 meters for 1 minute, if that helps

girlsyearapart · 29/10/2020 19:07

Oh I see what you mean. Neither of us have the app as our phones are too ancient.
We both named a cafe we had been to and I said I’d been to Aldi but it didn’t ask for the time only the dates...

famou5ive · 29/10/2020 19:13

My friend has had the same issue. She was working from home and didn't go out for a week, and has had a message saying she must self-isolate. She can't possibly have encountered anyone during the timeframe, and has decided that someone at her place of work has engineered it to ensure she doesn't return to the office so that she misses out on a particular work opportunity. To be fair, she is fairly paranoid generally. But it does raise questions about misuse.

PseudoBadger · 29/10/2020 19:16

That's not even slightly possible...

Original poster
Covidaquestion · 29/10/2020 19:19

No that's not even possible is it? I think she does sound paranoid though.

OP posts:
Postmanbear · 29/10/2020 19:19

My friend was told by track and trace that it is 14 days from when the infected person started showing symptoms but I’m not sure that makes any sense

loulouljh · 29/10/2020 19:23

That us why it is not a good idea to have the app! You could now have the police checking you are isolating!!!

lljkk · 29/10/2020 19:27

Has your phone been anywhere without you?
I would struggle to correctly remember what I did on each day in last 7 days.

Melroses · 29/10/2020 19:28

From this:

www.wired.co.uk/article/nhs-covid-19-tracking-app-contact-tracing

However, there is also an issue with the NHS app that sends notifications to people when they do not need to self-isolate. The Apple and Google-led system can send exposure logging or exposure notifications that say people may have been exposed. The NHS says these are default message from the Apple and Google technology. Nothing happens when they are clicked.

These phantom notifications have caused some confusion about people’s exposure to people with Covid-19. However, the NHS app has introduced a second notification that is sent at the same time. This says: “Don't worry, we have assessed your risk and there is no need to take action at this time”. The Department of Health says that people only need to self-isolate if they are told to do so within the app.

It doesn't make any sense to me (I don't have the app), but it does seem that there is a problem with false positives.

slipperywhensparticus · 29/10/2020 19:31

@famou5ive

My friend has had the same issue. She was working from home and didn't go out for a week, and has had a message saying she must self-isolate. She can't possibly have encountered anyone during the timeframe, and has decided that someone at her place of work has engineered it to ensure she doesn't return to the office so that she misses out on a particular work opportunity. To be fair, she is fairly paranoid generally. But it does raise questions about misuse.
I would contact them personally about this and explain it mus be a glitch
JaJaDingDong · 29/10/2020 19:31

And people wonder why Covid is on the rise again.

AcornAutumn · 29/10/2020 19:32

There was a poster who got contacted by a human from T&T because someone shed walked along the road with for 15 mins named her as a contact. I don’t know how the app works. Could you have been near someone outside who has the app and tested positive?

Other posters on that thread were saying it could only be 5 mins.

slipperywhensparticus · 29/10/2020 19:37

@JaJaDingDong

And people wonder why Covid is on the rise again.
Mistakes happen surely track and trace are better getting the actual person who has been in contact with the infected person rather than potentially infected people roaming free and healthy people stuck indoors?
Goldensunnydays81 · 29/10/2020 19:42

I have been contacted today to self isolate ending on Saturday the 7th at 11pm if you go on the app click on the about the app and then click on manage my data it tells you when and where you were exposed