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Original poster

What to do if you don't agree with being told to self isolate??

133 replies

jaychops · 03/06/2021 09:09

Colleague of DHs has tested positive and provided DHs details to track and trace as a close contact. However, he doesn't meet the criteria for close contact - he hasn't been under 1m, and not within 2m for more than a couple of minutes. We are supposed to be going away this weekend! What do we do? Has anyone been in this position?

OP posts:
Gizlotsmum · 03/06/2021 09:52

I think I would isolate, is he absolutely certain that he hasn’t been in close contact for the 48hr prior to the positive test? As gutting as it is I think I would isolate.

notapizzaeater · 03/06/2021 09:52

One of my friends is having to isolate, they had a visit from someone checking they actually was at home.

BentBastard · 03/06/2021 09:52

@June2021

I thought it was a legal requirement to isolate when told to by track and trace, otherwise what's the point of spending millions on it I'd people told to isolate just ignore it Hmm

It is. That's why it's shit that you can be legally required to isolate on the say so of an individual who may have no clue what actually
Constitutes a close contact.

Streamingbannersofdawn · 03/06/2021 09:53

So you are legally obliged to isolate because t & t say you need to...this information comes from someone telling them you are a close contact? That's it? You have no recourse?

Oblomov21 · 03/06/2021 09:54

I'd refuse to isolate. Go, on holiday. What's the worst that can happen? They contact you? Threaten to fine you?

And take pleasure in 'considering' hiring a lawyer with a 'see you in court, can't wait' type attitude.

I am NOT recommending this. I'm just saying I'd do this. Because I hate legal injustice, with a passion.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 03/06/2021 09:54

@jaychops He can phone Test and Trace but I haven't heard of them overturning an instruction to self-isolate.

It may be worth asking them if they can contact the person who reported it and clarify the close contact, or if it'd make a difference if the reporter contacted them - it might not, as understandably that'd make the system rather open for abuse, but they'd probably be more likely to accept a mistake from the reporter than from your DH.

He'll have to follow the instruction to isolate if they won't, it's legally binding if it's from T&T as opposed to the app.

I'm sorry about your weekend away.

BentBastard · 03/06/2021 09:54

@Streamingbannersofdawn

So you are legally obliged to isolate because t & t say you need to...this information comes from someone telling them you are a close contact? That's it? You have no recourse?

That's exactly what happened to my friend as as I said up thread, the "contact" later admitted they didn't understand what a close contact what when they gave her name (she wasn't a close contact at all).

Streamingbannersofdawn · 03/06/2021 09:54

That's really worrying.

Tiktokersmiracle · 03/06/2021 09:55

What baffles me is when these lateral flow tests first arrived, we were told by school that as per guidance, if you were tagged as someone coming into contact with a positive case, you would have to have a lateral flow test for 10 days in a row. If you were negative, in you went as normal. It was only if you showed positive that you had to go and get a PCR test

Yet within months, a mates DD has been told she must isolate for ten days from the last day of term all the way through the half term because she has been tagged as a close contact to a positive case. She has been lateral flow testing and negative but when it was queried with local PHE they said isolate or else. She also got called twice already to check she was home and told they could send local community support officers to the house to check as well.

What is the point of all these lateral flow test if you've had constant negatives yet have to isolate anyway?

Personally, I would ignore it. Get him tested with a PCR so you can show he's not positive and then get on with your lives. It's beyond a joke at this point that because of a small minority who failed to get the vaccine despite being vulnerable we all have to continue this farce and protect them because they refuse to protect themselves.

Oblomov21 · 03/06/2021 09:56

How do they fine you?
Has anyone seen any legal cases where people have fought back? And it turned out the 'track snd trace' had a weak legal case?

im2sad · 03/06/2021 09:56

Can your DH contact the colleague and ask them whether they read the guidance correctly as he doesn't think he fits the criteria. I'm thinking you're more likely to have it overturned if the colleague contacts t&t and says they made a mistake rather than DH contacting t&t as they must have a lot of people trying to get themselves out of it.

Streamingbannersofdawn · 03/06/2021 09:59

Has anyone actually been fined? I'm curious what would happen if you went to court and t & t entire evidence was "X said he was a contact".

Thirtyrock39 · 03/06/2021 09:59

It's a legal requirement and you could get a big fine. I had to isolate after going jogging with a friend who tested positive, I was convinced track and trace wouldn't contact me as we had been outside but they went through it all very thoroughly with my friend who was positive . It's like if you're nhs because we wear Ppe we wouldn't have to isolate but you'd have to tell track and trace- you can ring them on 119

BiggerBoat1 · 03/06/2021 10:01

Of course he has to isolate. It is a legal requirement and it is also the right thing to do. You don't have to isolate though so can still go away!

whatswithtodaytoday · 03/06/2021 10:02

If he was breathing the same air as the person he could easily have Covid, so should isolate. The 1m/2m rules are very blunt instruments which basically just allow businesses to carry on. Realistically, if he was indoors and in the same room for more than a few minutes then it's a definite risk. Outdoors far less so, tiny risk.

rozzyraspberry · 03/06/2021 10:02

Fundamental flaw of the system that it’s reliant on the positive individual giving names. Some people don’t understand the rules, others could even be malicious in naming others they hadn’t even seen.

Mammyloveswine · 03/06/2021 10:04

@BentBastard so why did the person give your friend as a contact? They must have spent some time together? I thought track and trace went through a lot about how close you were, the time frame etc precisely to avoid this?

If not then they really should do as like you say your poor friend missing a weeks pay is no laughing matter!

BentBastard · 03/06/2021 10:07

[quote Mammyloveswine]@BentBastard so why did the person give your friend as a contact? They must have spent some time together? I thought track and trace went through a lot about how close you were, the time frame etc precisely to avoid this?

If not then they really should do as like you say your poor friend missing a weeks pay is no laughing matter! [/quote]

The situation was friend dropped something off for her at her house. She did the drop "by the book". Put box on door step, rang bell, stepped back 2 meters and waited for door to be answered. That was it. The person gave her name because she "had seen her". She admitted she didn't understand the rules so gave the names of everyone she had seen.

No idea what g&t call centre person said or went through with her but whatever it was, she clearly didn't understand it.

BentBastard · 03/06/2021 10:08

*t&t. You can see what's on my mind 😳

DarcyLewis · 03/06/2021 10:08

When I was asked to name contacts for T&T, I wasn't expected to read or interpret any guidance - the contact tracer did that.

They asked me questions eg where had we been, who else was there, what kind of contact we had. The contact tracer then decided whether they were a close contact or not.

Your DH might have only been within 2m for a couple of minutes at time, but if for example they work in the same room all day and we was within 2m for 2 minutes 10 times during the day, they might decide he "counts".

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 03/06/2021 10:14

Why does he think he’s not a contact? Was he not in work with him?

He has to isolate if told unless there is a genuine reason to appeal, ie wrong name given etc.

Everyone surely knows by now that unless you isolate for 14 days before then plans may not go ahead.

DarcyLewis · 03/06/2021 10:34

There's a big difference between "we passed each other in the street at slightly less than 2m" and "we sit next to each other in an office for 9 hours a day but our chairs are 2m apart" in terms of infection risk.

Brefugee · 03/06/2021 10:36

This thread is astounding. Couple it with all the threads of "when will it ever end?" and you can see the answer: never because nobody wants to apply the rules to themselves.

Frankly? your DH needs to follow instructions to self isolate and suck it up for the good of the community.

Sometimesfraught82 · 03/06/2021 10:38

@Brefugee

This thread is astounding. Couple it with all the threads of "when will it ever end?" and you can see the answer: never because nobody wants to apply the rules to themselves.

Frankly? your DH needs to follow instructions to self isolate and suck it up for the good of the community.

Screw the “community” (most of which vulnerable will be double vaccinated unless they have made the decision not to be. In which case, I really don’t give a fig about them).

This would not stop me for a second going on holiday. Not a nano second

LadyPenelope68 · 03/06/2021 10:42

If he’s been contacted by Track and Trace then it’s a legal requirement to isolate, you don’t have a choice, even if you don’t agree with it. There’s a minimum £1,000 if you’re found not to be isolating. Just deal with it and he isolates.