Checks on people who are self-isolating

[Tulipomania]

Some one I work with was told to self isolate by the NHS app (her niece had tested positive). She got several phone calls during self-isolation checking up on her - all fine as she was following the rules, but once was in the shower and couldn't get to the phone.
Is this normal now? When I had to do it last summer no-one checked at all.

When quizzed on the types of checks in place, the government said they were "robust". When asked if this meant that non-answering of the phone would be followed up with a police visit to ascertain compliance, they said "the UK is not a police state".

So in short, yes these phone calls are happening, but I doubt if there's any consequence to not answering the phone. There certainly isn't a legal one. Worst case scenario would be that someone turns up to check in person, but seems that's frowned upon.

So much for "robust" lol

I don't know for sure but I think another thread had a link saying the law had been changed and now an app notice is legally binding.

I don’t see how it can be legally binding as not everyone has the app. There’s no way I’m risking having to isolate on the say so of an unreliable app!

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

I don't know for sure but I think another thread had a link saying the law had been changed and now an app notice is legally binding.

I don’t see how it can be legally binding as not everyone has the app. There’s no way I’m risking having to isolate on the say so of an unreliable app!

The law is a mess though Do you have the app? The Ts&Cs will be updated there I guess?

I tend to think anyone who has the app gets what they came for!

The law is a mess though
Do you have the app? The Ts&Cs will be updated there I guess?

I tend to think anyone who has the app gets what they came for!

I don't have the app as I don't trust it. I live in a flat and I don't want to be told to isolate if my upstairs neighbour (who works at the airport) tests positive! I had it for a short while but got rid when I went to the osteopath and they had a sign saying turn off bluetooth if you have the app as it will pick up someone's phone from the other treatment room.

You could be anywhere if they call you. The rest of hte family doesn't have to isolate if they haven't travelled with you. Ridiculous.

@DeathByWalkies

No chance I'd be downloading the app or self isolating - if they rang me up the first words out of my mouth would be "who's going to cover the costs, in full, of all my business overheads, lost earnings, perishable stock I'd have to bin and a dog walker to boot seeing as I'm not allowed out to walk the dog?". Call me back when you can tell me where to send the invoice and I'll start self isolating when you've paid up 👍

Unless you don't work / get full sick pay / can WFH on full pay then there should be no obligation to self isolate. I don't know anyone who can afford 10 days off with zero pay and zero help - especially not when (like me) you've already lost loaded of contracts and been denied SEISS and furlough on a technicality.

Before anyone mentions the £500 - most people who aren't on benefits are turned down for it, and it wouldn't cover all my costs anyway. I don't trust I'd get it.

Before anyone mentions some well meaning mutual aid scheme for the dog - he's got behaviour issues and I don't think they take on dogs like mine. He needs an experienced, professional, insured walker and they would cost £140 for 10 days of walks.

I can just imagine the eye rolling that would be going on when you launched into that speech. I'm sure they'll be making bespoke arrangements for special folk like you, if you aren't going to isolate your reasons are irrelevant.

We can only hope that you care enough about the people you come into contact with to keep a wide berth if you catch covid

I also know of someone quarantining after travel who had phone calls plus a visit to the house to check they were there .

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

The law is a mess though Do you have the app? The Ts&Cs will be updated there I guess?

I tend to think anyone who has the app gets what they came for!

I don't have the app as I don't trust it. I live in a flat and I don't want to be told to isolate if my upstairs neighbour (who works at the airport) tests positive! I had it for a short while but got rid when I went to the osteopath and they had a sign saying turn off bluetooth if you have the app as it will pick up someone's phone from the other treatment room.

You don't need to turn of Bluetooth (unless you want to) just switch off contact tracing in the app. I have the app and use it for checking in to places, but have contact tracing switched off most of the time.

My dsd had the police turn up at our house after returning from a foreign country to check she was there. She was in the shower and had to come out in a towel.

I didn't realise that App dictated isolation was binding- another good reason not to have the app.
IMHO tracking of self isolation should focus heavily on those with cv or those returning from Amber countries.
I know I'll get flamed for this but dog walking outside when it's not busy and solo walking/running are unlikely to cause any spread and only those with positive coronavirus test should not be allowed to do them.

I've been contacted by test and trace to isolate but my app isn't showing anything!

You don't need to turn of Bluetooth (unless you want to) just switch off contact tracing in the app. I have the app and use it for checking in to places, but have contact tracing switched off most of the time.

I didn't realise that. I've only ever checked in to one place and realised how stupid it is that you can't check out and deleted it.

If I checked in using the app at the hairdressers I wouldn't be able to check out, if I use their manual system I put the time I arrive and when I leave, much more accurate!

@starbrightstarlight8888

My dsd had the police turn up at our house after returning from a foreign country to check she was there. She was in the shower and had to come out in a towel.

What if you're passed out drunk? I know people who drink so hard they pass out, and they sleep on a different level from their front door (particularly those in maisonette flats).

We never had anyone contact us at all last year.

I don't have the app, though. I have an old phone that won't support it anyhow. If I go out I take my super old phone which isn't even a smart phone. Or just go for takeaway. I went to a pub the other night and just gave my burner phone number. Fuck that shit. I was outside the whole time anyhow.

I had to isolate for 10 days after a holiday last Oct. didn't hear a single thing from anyone at any point.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

You don't need to turn of Bluetooth (unless you want to) just switch off contact tracing in the app. I have the app and use it for checking in to places, but have contact tracing switched off most of the time.

I didn't realise that. I've only ever checked in to one place and realised how stupid it is that you can't check out and deleted it.

If I checked in using the app at the hairdressers I wouldn't be able to check out, if I use their manual system I put the time I arrive and when I leave, much more accurate!

The check in part is completely separate to the contact tracing part - contact tracing can result in you being told to self isolate, the check in can't. It just allows PHE to see if there are outbreaks in particular venues and could result in you being told there has been an outbreak and being asked to take a test, or to be more vigilant about social distancing or to make sure you take a test if you get symptoms.

Having just double checked, you wouldn't even be asked to take a test, it would just alert you of the outbreak or positive test and ask you to follow the latest advice on social distancing.

Thanks for that @RichardMarxisinnocent

I never answer my phone unless I recognise the number so they'd be on a hiding to nothing with me. I also don't answer the door unless I'm expecting someone (so not at all or the past 18 months!) I highly doubt they come round anyway. Plus... going to visit someone who's isolating away from people in case they have Covid? Kind of daft isn't it?

We're all on day six of self isolation in our house with two positive tests.
No checks at all.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

The law is a mess though Do you have the app? The Ts&Cs will be updated there I guess?

I tend to think anyone who has the app gets what they came for!

I don't have the app as I don't trust it. I live in a flat and I don't want to be told to isolate if my upstairs neighbour (who works at the airport) tests positive! I had it for a short while but got rid when I went to the osteopath and they had a sign saying turn off bluetooth if you have the app as it will pick up someone's phone from the other treatment room.

Glad you don't have the app any more Do you mind if I ask why you had it initially?

Glad you don't have the app any more
Do you mind if I ask why you had it initially?

Curiosity as much as anything. I thought I was doing the right thing and then realised just how crap the app is! I don't always take my phone with me anyway so it's pretty pointless

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

Glad you don't have the app any more Do you mind if I ask why you had it initially?

Curiosity as much as anything. I thought I was doing the right thing and then realised just how crap the app is! I don't always take my phone with me anyway so it's pretty pointless

Thanks

Dh colleague arrived from Brazil and had police knocking door twice.