Why so many pinged by app if most people have deleted or ignore?

[ZNation]

I thought most people had deleted the app and or ignore the self isolation if they get pinged after reading many threads on here ( I don't agree with ignoring self isolation btw) so cant understand why so many staff shortages now after being pinged when less people have the app and much less likely to comply than before?
Yes I know cases are higher but they were higher in October too so why now is there talk of shutting shops and factories and the underground etc as staff shortages?
Could the cases be much much higher than what is being officially released?

@anguauberwaldironfoundersson

We were away last weekend with a group of people who all had and used the app, checking into places, etc. We spent the day together at an event but kept away from others outside our social group.

Several days later one single person from the group has been told to isolate via the app, backdated to the day we were all together at the event. Not one other person has been told to isolate. There was no way they could have come into contact without someone else also coming into contact.

This has literally happened to me.

Three of us went out last Saturday together. All sat together the whole time but I'm the only one that's had a notification in the app to isolate. It tells me it's from Saturday but surely if I've been that close to someone for it to register, given the other two people were sat on the same table as me (partner and adult dc who all live together) they would have been in contact with this person too.

When the app pinged yesterday it told me I need to isolate for 3 days. It's a pita and I will isolate but it's annoying as I've tested today and I'm negative and also I've had both vaccine doses, where as my adult dc has only had one. It's particularly annoying as I'm due in work in person tomorrow rather than wfh which is rare (work with elderly so obviously will not go in and out them at risk) so I'll be wfh as usual instead.

I just don't get it to be honest

This has literally happened to me.

Three of us went out last Saturday together. All sat together the whole time but I'm the only one that's had a notification in the app to isolate. It tells me it's from Saturday but surely if I've been that close to someone for it to register, given the other two people were sat on the same table as me (partner and adult dc who all live together) they would have been in contact with this person too.

When the app pinged yesterday it told me I need to isolate for 3 days. It's a pita and I will isolate but it's annoying as I've tested today and I'm negative and also I've had both vaccine doses, where as my adult dc has only had one. It's particularly annoying as I'm due in work in person tomorrow rather than wfh which is rare (work with elderly so obviously will not go in and out them at risk) so I'll be wfh as usual instead.

I just don't get it to be honest

We were all at an outdoor event and never really got closer than 2m from any other person. None of us understand why the app has pinged only one person but hearing how many issues the app has had it doesn't surprise us.

@anguauberwaldironfoundersson

We were away last weekend with a group of people who all had and used the app, checking into places, etc. We spent the day together at an event but kept away from others outside our social group.

Several days later one single person from the group has been told to isolate via the app, backdated to the day we were all together at the event. Not one other person has been told to isolate. There was no way they could have come into contact without someone else also coming into contact.

Did the rest of the group have contact tracing switched off on the app or their Bluetooth off maybe? Using the app to check in won't result in an instruction to isolate, just a message to say a case has been traced back to a venue you've been to so take extra care. The isolation messages come from the contact tracing part of the app which a lot of people have turned off, or they have their Bluetooth off.

Failing that, then it's definitely that the app is rubbish!

I can't believe it's been over a year and people still act like someone would want an isolation notification just to get out of going to work. You have to isolate from all aspects of your life you know- seeing friends, family, going out anywhere, even getting exercise. It's really truly horrible and having done it twice I can guarantee that nobody wants to have to do it.

Did the rest of the group have contact tracing switched off on the app or their Bluetooth off maybe? Using the app to check in won't result in an instruction to isolate, just a message to say a case has been traced back to a venue you've been to so take extra care. The isolation messages come from the contact tracing part of the app which a lot of people have turned off, or they have their Bluetooth off.

Failing that, then it's definitely that the app is rubbish!

No, I definitely had contact tracing on and it's not contacted me. We did wonder this amongst ourselves and we've all got the same settings, etc. It is truly bizarre.

DD was pinged but has not acted upon it. She was in her flat all day wfh. Her neighbour has been coughing though, so we assume the "ping" was through the wall from him. I suspect there are also lots of people to whom this applies too.

Personally I have never downloaded the app. When I have been out for coffee or dinner, I have just given my name and number. The places I go to are very low key, rural, not chain type places, so very normal. DH has deleted his app, although he may reactivate it next week because he wants to get out of a meeting up North .

I have never had the app myself like @BigWoollyJumpers. I don't carry my mobile phone with me at all times, such as this morning when buying groceries, or when on my daily walk. I've just given phone number when asked at cafes or elsewhere.

@valnevavaxx

I can't believe it's been over a year and people still act like someone would want an isolation notification just to get out of going to work. You have to isolate from all aspects of your life you know- seeing friends, family, going out anywhere, even getting exercise. It's really truly horrible and having done it twice I can guarantee that nobody wants to have to do it.

Haven't you noticed the weather has improved? I can quite believe some people would be happy to be pinged so they can have 10 days sitting in the garden!

Nothing would surprise me after the gloating from my neighbours when they were furloughed and spent the summer relaxing in the garden and laughed at me for being inside and working.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat I don't have a garden, neither do many others. In terms of maintaining mental and physical health, I think self-isolation is about as bad as it gets- I think assuming people want to get pinged on purpose is pretty ignorant.

I know plenty of people who would jump at the chance to have 2 weeks at home/in their gardens instead of going to work!

And not go ANYWHERE else? Not to the shops, the post office, the gym, out for dinner, to see friends, go for a walk??

Those people are obviously far more robust than I am.

[quote valnevavaxx]@PinkSparklyPussyCat I don't have a garden, neither do many others. In terms of maintaining mental and physical health, I think self-isolation is about as bad as it gets- I think assuming people want to get pinged on purpose is pretty ignorant.[/quote]
Of course a lot of people won't want to be pinged but you're very naive if you think that many others won't welcome it and probably wouldn't be isolating anyway.

Maybe that makes me ignorant but as I said I spent last year hearing about how wonderful furlough was so I can believe there's people who would welcome a couple of weeks off for being pinged.

And I know of a few people who have been pretty happy to have 10 days off work - two teachers and a few office staff. There's no reason that wouldn't affect various industries, especially in the gorgeous weather, and especially for people who feel hard done by that people had a year "off" and they didn't
this - I don't think all the isolating people are sat indoors with the curtains drawn - who is checking

Fairly sure a lot of people would still do these things anyway.

Well yes people who are selfish enough to not actually follow isolation rules probably would be selfish enough to use pinging as an excuse not to work.

@fertilitybs

I've noticed a trend that self employed people have deleted it (myself included) and employed people seem to be dying to get a ping.

At least in my circles anyway!

haha, I've been saying this for ages. Would also love to see the rates of long covid in SE compared to public sector workers

@valnevavaxx

I can't believe it's been over a year and people still act like someone would want an isolation notification just to get out of going to work. You have to isolate from all aspects of your life you know- seeing friends, family, going out anywhere, even getting exercise. It's really truly horrible and having done it twice I can guarantee that nobody wants to have to do it.

well it doesn't work like that. People get pinged, get 10 days off work and spend it sunning themselves in the garden, visiting friends, going on nice walks, going out for lunch. That's my experience anyway and i find it a bit odd that anyone would literally imprison themselves in their homes

Maybe that makes me ignorant but as I said I spent last year hearing about how wonderful furlough was so I can believe there's people who would welcome a couple of weeks off for being pinged.
It's all they were talking about on the radio, well that and Covid, all day, every single day at work. After tax and NI, on 80% of my wage, I'd have lost £50 a week and I'd get some of that back in tax credits. Completely understand the job security worries, but it was very difficult listening to what a lovely time people were having.

@thenakedmolerat Because that's not what isolation means? I've been pinged twice and spent both times entirely in my home, because the whole point is you don't have contact with anyone else while you're in the incubation period after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive? Ignore the ping if you must (although morally selfish, in my opinion) but why on earth would you say you're isolating to then... not isolate?

Are you deliberately misunderstanding or are you really that gullible @valnevavaxx? It's good that you complied (even though you didn't have to) but surely you don't believe everyone 'isolating' is staying at home?

I don't have the app as I don't intend to be pinged (I'd obviously comply if T&T contacted me) but I can understand why some people who fancy a few days off work would think being pinged is a good idea and not actually comply. It wouldn't make any difference to me as I'd still be sodding working!

but why on earth would you say you're isolating to then... not isolate

erm. i dunno. Maybe so people can get 10 days paid off work?
I'm self employed so would ignore any ping as I can't lose the money. It's also why I never test myself. I'd rather not know.Ditto giving my real contact number signing in anywhere.
But, if I was employed and getting full wages I can totally see why you would want to be pinged.
You can't be that naiive, surely

Putting a pin in the moral side of it- if I got pinged and told my work I was isolating, I'd be too scared of being caught out and about to risk doing anything besides just isolating. Maybe I am naive!

Also I am lucky in that I can wfh while I isolate- understand it's different for those who are self employed. But wfh is certainly no jolly, I'm still working!

[quote valnevavaxx]@thenakedmolerat Because that's not what isolation means? I've been pinged twice and spent both times entirely in my home, because the whole point is you don't have contact with anyone else while you're in the incubation period after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive? Ignore the ping if you must (although morally selfish, in my opinion) but why on earth would you say you're isolating to then... not isolate?[/quote]
To not go into work. This isn't difficult.

I've absolutely had jobs where I'd have been glad of the opportunity to have 10 days off in the hot weather with SSP, especially as I wouldn't be actually observing full isolation on the basis of an unfit for purpose app. Moot now, as I wfh, but a few years back I'd have stayed off work with a bit of pin money at every opportunity.