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Original poster

Just been notified to isolate via track and trace app

64 replies

Zofloramummy · 16/01/2021 23:22

I’ve just had an alert on my phone to isolate until the 21st from the NHS track and trace app. Counting back the days for 10 days isolation I was in Morrison’s supermarket on Tuesday.

I’m due in work on Monday and have emailed my line manager and the headteacher with a screen shot and to ask them what they want me to do. Legally you are not obliged to isolate unless notified by the track and trace team and I suspect I’ll be told to go to work (in a school covering keyworker children).

I’m currently fine, no temp, I have a mild backache and I’m tired but that due to homeschooling!

What have other people done who received an alert? Did your employer support isolation? Rates are really high in my area and I’m reluctant to ignore the alert but I also need my job (single parent).

OP posts:
DisgruntledPelican · 17/01/2021 07:02

@doggygal

I thought if you were wearing a mask then it was different rules
Only if unavoidable, eg close contact medical appointments / taxi journeys
lockeddownandcrazy · 17/01/2021 07:06

We have been told to ignore, or if we choose to isolate we have to go off sick.WFH is an option but manager wants us all in as its easier to manage and says its fairer to allocate work and see what we are doing

MiniTheMinx · 17/01/2021 07:08

You can always ring test and trace....option2.

I received a notification via app to isolate for 4 days. Apparently it took several days for infected individual to get tested despite having symptoms, then several days for them to receive test result. It turned out my phone picked up my neighbours phone, despite me having no contact with this person. Test and trace insisted I still isolate. Key worker who regularly comes into contact with positives and suspected covid who in work would not be told to isolate.

If told to isolate, you isolate. Simples.

SophieB100 · 17/01/2021 07:09

I'm a bit confused by your first post OP, you said "Legally you are not obliged to isolate unless notified by the track and trace team". Then you go onto say you've asked your Head what you need to do...but you've already been told what to do...isolate, by the track and trace team.

Are you expecting the school to over rule this?

I wouldn't go into school, if I had been contacted, to work with key worker children (I work in a school too). That's the whole point of track and trace.

The school should support you in this - it's not your fault. It would be very irresponsible of the school to insist you go in. They'll have to adjust the key worker rota and get cover for you.

Purplethrow · 17/01/2021 07:12

I was pinged by the track and trace app, I hadn’t been anywhere on the day it was triggered. I called the helpline and the chap said it can be triggered by someone driving or walking past your house . He said he had deleted the app as it was not accurate. It can also be triggered through walls . I had a test at a ‘no symptoms’ centre to be on the safe side.

doggygal · 17/01/2021 07:12

@DisgruntledPelican so how does the app decide what's avoidable contact? If they don't give a time the OP could have been at morrisons or a doctor appointment, how would that affect being told to isolate?
I don't actually know anyone personally who has the app everyone I talk to is too unsure to download it

ineedaholidaynow · 17/01/2021 07:16

All educational staff in our MAT who are isolating due to being a contact WFH eg when a class bubble burst due to child testing positive, the teacher taught the class remotely. I assume unless you show symptoms you are fit to work

bobbiester · 17/01/2021 08:17

Please just isolate!!!!

We're never going to get this thing under control if people don't isolate when they are told to.

A good employer would consider it a major disciplinary issue if someone turned up for work when they were meant to be isolating. I'd probably get fired if I did that knowingly.

Subordinateclause · 17/01/2021 08:19

She's not a teacher! There are many more people who work in schools than just teachers. There might not be work for her to do from home (not that that is a reason not to isolate).

ineedaholidaynow · 17/01/2021 08:24

@Subordinateclause she said she was working from home at the moment

HoollyWugger · 17/01/2021 08:46

Weird - I had a notification at a similar time, OP. I've not been near anyone except my partner and my son Hmm

itsnotgolf · 17/01/2021 08:47

The NHS app is a load of crap. It has a weird algorithm where it counts if you have been less than 2 metres for more than 15 mins with someone who logged a positive test. But it doesn't have to be one person. It can 5 people you were around for 3 minutes. Also, it doesn't know about cars, walls or plastic shields in cafes.
I got a message to self isolate for 10 days. I didn't fucking go anywhere! There was no way I could have caught anything.

If you really were in close contact with someone you would get a call from test and trace or a text message with your name on it. Then you definitely have self isolate.
Also, the app has tracing data on your phone, so you can see when it picked up the positive tests.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 17/01/2021 08:53

I'm confused - you said you are already working from home, so not sure what the issue is?

Calmandmeasured1 · 17/01/2021 09:00

A family member received the same message from NHS Track and Trace recently and, working back from the end date for isolating, contact was also in supermarket. Next day they also tested positive as did their wife.

I think you should isolate per T&T text.

Lindy2 · 17/01/2021 09:07

You need to isolate. It's as simple as that

The app has told you, you have had close contact with someone who has tested positive. You are therefore at risk of developing Coronavirus so you do the right thing and stay home until your isolation period is complete.

If you go into a school after having been told to isolate then that would be disgracefully reckless.

Work from home, as long as you continue to feel well, until you are no longer an infection risk.

Sparklingbrook · 17/01/2021 09:17

How accurate/reliable is the app? I get that you have to isolate but have heard tales of alerts being received when the person hasn’t even left the house.

Cantrecall · 17/01/2021 09:22

Bit pointless people having the app to just ignore it anyway? Or am I missing something

PurpleDaisies · 17/01/2021 09:28

You can find your exposure date and check you’ve been told to isolate for the right time. I was told to isolate for longer than 10 days by the app. I ignored the random extra days it added on.

I agree with others, if you’re working from home anyway, what’s the big deal?

Purplethrow · 17/01/2021 09:28

The app can be triggered through walls so if a next door neighbour is positive it can send an alert to you even if you haven’t been out. Obviously if there’s a chance that you have been in contact with someone then it’s best to isolate. I was told by the test and trace helpline that they get loads of calls from people querying the alert because they haven’t been out of the house on the day they were meant to have had contact.

frumpety · 17/01/2021 09:30

Have they changed the algorithm that is used because of the increased transmissibility of the new strain ?

Purplethrow · 17/01/2021 09:40

@frumpety not from what I gathered from the helpline, the chap said it is pretty much useless, it’s not mandatory just an indicator, he said he’s deleted it, not very reassuring.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 17/01/2021 10:31

I had this notification on Friday, the app will tell you your exposure date, mine is the same as yours in a supermarket.

I am WFH so it's not affected me but for our employees who can't, they get full pay whilst they have to isolate

Sparklingbrook · 17/01/2021 10:56

DH says he knows of someone who is on their third round of 10 day isolation because of the app.

I don't know what to think really. It's all down to where your phone is, there's so many variables.

Purplethrow · 17/01/2021 11:03

The help desk chap told me that the app can’t work out distance so as some Bluetooth has a range of 100metres it will activate if you have been near anyone positive within this range .

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 17/01/2021 11:07

If you've been told to isolate then you have to by law. I don't think track and trace will be in contact in that instance.

Not if it's an alert from the app, only if contacted by test and trace. The app is too unreliable can pick up if a neighbour tests positive for example. I don't have it for that reason as I live in a flat and I'm not isolating if someone in another flat tests positive!

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