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Original poster

How does track and trace work?

43 replies

ssd · 18/05/2021 23:18

Im asking specifically how do they know who the person testing positive had contact with? I know they ask the person, but if the person says 'i was working in xyz (retail store) with lots of people ', would track and trace contact the store, or would they just ask the positive person to provide a list of people they remembered?

OP posts:
ChristmasCovid · 19/05/2021 09:08

If they ring a store off course they won’t have details of everyone that’s been in - it’s to see if any staff have tested positive, if there’s an outbreak associated with the store etc..
most people if following guidelines would not have close contact with strangers in a shop.
It’s about doing they best they can, it is not perfect of course it’s not but if more people comply by giving correct information- the better they can trace potential contacts if an outbreak is linked.

ChristmasCovid · 19/05/2021 09:12

@ssd

Its about working in a shop. If i work in a shop in a different area as normal and one of the staff in that area tests positive, if they are contacted they wouldn't be able to name me as they dont know me. So i wondered if the contact handler would call the shop to get more details.
Yes they do ‘IF’ the person who tests positive states that they have had contact with someone they can’t identify.
lorca · 19/05/2021 09:13

Track and Trace works by following the bar Code on the parcel they are tracking.

Test and Trace is a world-beating monumental Cock up that is supposed to alert you to having been in contact for more than 15 minutes with a person who then tests positive. Whilst using ALL your battery. And does not differentiate between you leaving your phone/bag in a place next to someone else' and Actually being next to someone.

See also - being in a pub/garden/house on the same evening. Not necessarily at the same time....

dementedpixie · 19/05/2021 09:17

@lorca that's not test and trace, that's the app. They are separate things.

Test and trace involves you giving details of your contacts and them being told to isolate and the app uses Bluetooth to let people you don't know be aware of contact with a positive case

woodfort · 19/05/2021 09:18

Yeah I’ve wondered this. So if I check in at the gym and someone who checked in 30 mins before me then tests positive, what happens? Do I get pinged? Because they might well have been swimming while I was on the tennis courts and we were never in the same building as each other at the same time?

FlibbertyGiblets · 19/05/2021 09:31

To be fair, track and trace was used last year, here's a random link from an NHS site which interchanges track and trace with test and trace, confusing.
www.ncic.nhs.uk/news/please-download-nhs-covid-19-track-and-trace-app

dementedpixie · 19/05/2021 09:34

I see what you mean. They just chopped and changed the terms throughout that. No wonder there is confusion

Ostara212 · 19/05/2021 09:42

@ssd

Its about working in a shop. If i work in a shop in a different area as normal and one of the staff in that area tests positive, if they are contacted they wouldn't be able to name me as they dont know me. So i wondered if the contact handler would call the shop to get more details.
I would imagine they'd contact HR and HR would notify all staff and ask who was in close proximity?
Ostara212 · 19/05/2021 09:42

Track and trace is the better name, they're trying to track who was there.

DumplingsAndStew · 19/05/2021 09:43

@Chunkymenrock

Please call it the correct name. It's TEST and Trace. It's been a complete mess unfortunately.
It's actually called Test and Protect here. Call it the correct name 😉
shewalkslikerihanna · 19/05/2021 09:50

It uses Bluetooth?
Well there you go.
Mines always switched off as it eats my battery

Chunkymenrock · 19/05/2021 10:40

@dumplings andstew, the OP is not in Scotland!

Chunkymenrock · 19/05/2021 10:43

@ostara, that's what the trace bit is all about! To trace who was there. TEST is a pretty critical part of the whole process. The name Track and Trace is not a better name as it's already in use by the Post Office.

dementedpixie · 19/05/2021 10:59

[quote Chunkymenrock]@dumplings andstew, the OP is not in Scotland![/quote]
I think the OP is in Scotland

dementedpixie · 19/05/2021 11:05

@shewalkslikerihanna

It uses Bluetooth? Well there you go. Mines always switched off as it eats my battery
The app does Test and Protect itself doesn't use Bluetooth
Chunkymenrock · 19/05/2021 11:06

If she is, just how she got Track and Trace from Test and Protect is even odder! Anyway...hopefully she's clear on the process now, wherever she lives!Grin

Original poster
ssd · 19/05/2021 11:22

Sorry I'm in Scotland

OP posts:
DumplingsAndStew · 19/05/2021 11:24

[quote Chunkymenrock]@dumplings andstew, the OP is not in Scotland![/quote]
You assume that because she didn't type in Scots Gaelic?

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