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Original poster

Having to self isolate as next door are positive

74 replies

Wwydiywm · 15/12/2020 18:38

Got a notification from the covid app today to self isolate, apparently I was in contact with someone on sunday, when I didn't leave the house!
As the app works on bluetooth, I'm assuming it's because next door neighbours (we share a wall) have tested positive, but I don't want to ask them as its prying!
Has anyone else had this happen, is it possible?

OP posts:
LemmysAceCard · 15/12/2020 21:22

[quote MummaBear4321]@LemmysAceCard why didnt he just ignore them? Am I missing something here? Surely some element of common sense can be applied, or are we all just blindly sitting in our rooms for 2 weeks because an algorithm told us to?[/quote]
Basically he was told that he has to self isolate and as he is flagged on the system as being in contact he will be fined if he goes out. They understood that he hasn’t actually seen his neighbour but rules are rules and he has to self isolate.

He is not happy about it but is not a rule breaker so will self isolate

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 15/12/2020 21:27

I'm NHS, we are told to turn our app off at work.

I guess it depends on individual Trust's policy. There is no value in having it on at work though, the app does not know if you are wearing appropriate PPE or that your phone has been in the staff room all day with everyone else's whilst you have all been social distancing and wearing PPE.

A tiny part of me would love the chance to isolate for 2 weeks, I'm on my knees at the moment but as a professional, I do all I can to keep myself safe and rarely go anywhere except work😫

ekidmxcl · 15/12/2020 21:29

Why do you have this stupid app? It doesn’t work well, as is proved by your experience. I’d delete the crappy thing. Many workplaces tell people not to have this app.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 15/12/2020 21:30

Sorry, none of that was helpful to you op😳

I don't think you have to follow the app. If you know you haven't been anywhere, there doesn't seem any risk you could have got it.

I guess the lesson is to turn the app off at home, only turn it on when going to places that aren't covid secure.

AcornAutumn · 15/12/2020 21:32

[quote MummaBear4321]@LemmysAceCard why didnt he just ignore them? Am I missing something here? Surely some element of common sense can be applied, or are we all just blindly sitting in our rooms for 2 weeks because an algorithm told us to?[/quote]
Lemmy it sounds like your son spoke to a complete fool

This is how the government are running things. The NHS guy who spoke out about the NHS being omitted from tracing went quiet very quickly.

Callipygion · 15/12/2020 21:37

Not quite sure what the problem is here, if the app says you were in contact with someone on sunday and you didn't see anyone on Sunday, I would just ignore it. It's advisory anyway.

It’s advisory is it? Bloody Brexit referendum was advisory but look where that shitshow has got us. This govt couldn’t organise a piss up in a brewery.

BrightYellowDaffodil · 15/12/2020 21:46

This is why I don’t have the app - Bluetooth doesn’t recognise walls. I live in a narrow terrace house where a large percentage of my property is within 2m of another. If I leave my phone on the table by the wall and my neighbour does too, and he tests positive, I’ll get a notification. Fuck that, and fuck the idea that I’m going to be careful where I put my phone in my own house, or faff about turning the app on and off all the time.

AppleKatie · 15/12/2020 21:49

The app simply isn’t fit for purpose.

If I believed it would actually help to slow the spread I would use it, but as it is it doesn’t do what it says on the tin so nope, no dice.

Original poster
Wwydiywm · 15/12/2020 21:52

Thanks all for your stories, they're interesting to hear and I think I will delete the app after this.

Sorry to hear you're struggling @Doyouthinktheysaurus. We all appreciate the amazing work the NHS is doing for us, I hope you know that and can see the incredible value of what you do.

OP posts:
vodkaredbullgirl · 15/12/2020 21:59

We have been told to turn the app off at work, get tested weekly and wear the correct PPE. We also have a 2m rule with other carers, bit hard when its comes to the residents.

doireallyneedaname · 15/12/2020 22:07

I don’t think that’s how it works. The notification could have popped up on Sunday but that doesn’t mean you were in contact with them on Sunday! It could have been a few days prior and the person then went on to test positive.

Also, the app recognises the strength of the connection so if there is a wall between you it will account for that.

Original poster
Wwydiywm · 15/12/2020 22:13

@doireallyneedaname
The notification came through today and has told me to self isolate for 8 days. It counts 10 days from the contact that you need to self isolate, so the 'contact' was 2 days ago.

OP posts:
Xenia · 15/12/2020 22:14

Luckily I am not rich enough to have a mobile telephone that would take the app!

Original poster
Wwydiywm · 15/12/2020 22:15

The other reason I think its next door is I sleep on the side of the bed closest the shared wall, with phone on nightstand. My husband sleeps on the other side, further from the wall and hasn't got a notification.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 15/12/2020 22:20

@doireallyneedaname

I don’t think that’s how it works. The notification could have popped up on Sunday but that doesn’t mean you were in contact with them on Sunday! It could have been a few days prior and the person then went on to test positive.

Also, the app recognises the strength of the connection so if there is a wall between you it will account for that.

It tells you which day was the day of contact.
Having to self isolate as next door are positive
KEA321 · 15/12/2020 22:41

I can say, hand on heart, I have had no contact with anyone at all other than my 10 year old, so the only explanation is it must go through walls! I haven't even seen the postman.

efes · 15/12/2020 22:49

@Xenia

Luckily I am not rich enough to have a mobile telephone that would take the app!
🤣
MercyBooth · 16/12/2020 00:17

Yes it has happened to my adult son, his neighbour has COVID and his app pinged, he never left the house. He rang the helpline and was told basically tough he has so self isolate as he has been in contact with a confirmed case. He hasn’t set eyes on the neighbour for weeks

Well conspiracy theorists will love this and really dine out on it and the Government only have themselves to blame

And no wonder so many have lost patience with da roolz

MercyBooth · 16/12/2020 00:18

@LemmysAceCard if that were me i would be speaking to the press.

LemmysAceCard · 16/12/2020 08:04

@MercyBooth

Yes it has happened to my adult son, his neighbour has COVID and his app pinged, he never left the house. He rang the helpline and was told basically tough he has so self isolate as he has been in contact with a confirmed case. He hasn’t set eyes on the neighbour for weeks

Well conspiracy theorists will love this and really dine out on it and the Government only have themselves to blame

And no wonder so many have lost patience with da roolz

If it was me i would ignore it, i have been following the rules, dont mix, stay in etc, but this i wouldnt.

He has not been near the neighbour, and rang the advise line straight away, he also said he rang 119 (i think, i was trying to cook when he rang so was abit distracted) and they both said the same thing, they can see the situation is rubbish but he still has to stay in and isolate as he has been flagged up on the system. They stressed that he would be fined if he went out.

But he is not a rule breaker and will follow the isolation rules. I wouldnt myself but he will.

AcornAutumn · 16/12/2020 10:37

I understand the app is not legally binding

So I don’t get why someone would isolate when they know it’s talking rubbish

Also i hope your son deletes it after this. There is actually no need for him to isolate. It is a nonsense. It’s what happens when tracing is led by technology or private firms instead of the clinical ways.

There’s an entire cross generational group of people who now think this is how infectious disease should be managed.

Youngatheart00 · 16/12/2020 13:37

The iPhone app doesn’t seem to tell you when the exposure was....just the length of days to isolate.

What is the methodology?

AcornAutumn · 16/12/2020 15:28

@Youngatheart00

The iPhone app doesn’t seem to tell you when the exposure was....just the length of days to isolate.

What is the methodology?

Curiouser and curiouser

I though the app was crap but not that crap.

Then again, I can’t imagine isolating because of contact completely unknown. What a bonanza for some companies.

It’s interesting that they really think they can deal with stuff that should be dealt with via humans in this way.

TurquoiseDress · 16/12/2020 15:36

I'd delete the app! (after clarifying with your neighbour)

Or if you really want to keep the app, turn it off!

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