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Original poster

Can you pinged if someone who lives in the same building has Covid?

29 replies

Mrsfrumble · 21/07/2021 16:10

Upstairs neighbour has tested positive. We share a front door and communal hallway, but hardly ever see her. We haven’t had any contact for the past couple of weeks.

DH has just texted to say he’s been pinged and is on his way home from work, and now I’m worried because I don’t know where his contact has taken place and whether I’ll get pinged too. Will the app be able to recognise that upstairs neighbour belongs to a separate household? If you’ve been pinged at the same time as a family member, how long was it between pings?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrsfrumble · 21/07/2021 16:18

I’ve just been pinged. Fuck 😢

OP posts:
smallandimperfectlyformed · 21/07/2021 16:19

I don't think that can count, as doesn't it have to be close contact for 15 minutes or more for you to be pinged? Bloody well hope so anyway as live in a block of 20 flats and would end up being pinged all the time!! Hope your DH is alright and doesn't have it, though it sounds like he just has to isolate.

smallandimperfectlyformed · 21/07/2021 16:22

Sorry you have been pinged as well Sad

KylieKoKo · 21/07/2021 16:24

It's not legally binding and sounds like it's because your neighbour has it. I don't think I'd isolate in this case. Covid can't travel through walls.

ColettesEarrings · 21/07/2021 16:25

Definitely turn off contact tracing when you are in the flats building - neighbour pings are really common!

Unanananana · 21/07/2021 16:25

My friend got pinged through a wall (terraced house) because her neighbour tested positive.

If you know you've had no direct contact with them, ignore and delete that ridiculous app. Its not fit for purpose.

LBOCS2 · 21/07/2021 16:26

It is likely to be your neighbour. If you've had contact tracing on at home, your app will see it as you having been in their vicinity despite the fact that there is a full wall (floor/ceiling) between you.

Original poster
Mrsfrumble · 21/07/2021 16:30

Does the 10 days start from the day of contact? Because DH and I have been in separate places all day. WRT to upstairs neighbours, as they live right above us I’m wondering if the Bluetooth the app uses can distinguish if the 2 meters distance between devices is vertical.

Can I still send the children to school if I can find someone to take them?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrsfrumble · 21/07/2021 16:33

Sorry, x-posted with a load of people. I think it might be the neighbour. I’ll message her and the top floor flat and see if they all have the app and if the top floor has been pinged.

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Barbie222 · 21/07/2021 16:34

Yes. That happened to me - neighbour was only a few feet away, but through bricks and mortar!

Barbie222 · 21/07/2021 16:34

Bluetooth can't see Wales.

Barbie222 · 21/07/2021 16:35

Or walls!

PeonyTime · 21/07/2021 16:35

Step 1: use the app to identify the time of the contact - it will probably be before yesterday - and see if that suggests a location other than home.
Step 2: if it's from your neighbour, ignore the app. Not fit for purpose in this instance.

Notthisnotthat · 21/07/2021 16:36

My brother in law worked from his office for one day, he was the only person on his floor, a colleague who worked on the floor above tested positive and my BIL was pinged. He was at home at all other times.

Iheartmysmart · 21/07/2021 16:37

Happened to me. I ignored the ping as the only other place I’d been was to the park with the dog. It was pouring with rain that day and I didn’t see another soul. I ignored it and deleted the app,

Original poster
Mrsfrumble · 21/07/2021 16:37

Okay, how do I identify the time and location of contact? Thanks.

OP posts:
WoMandalorian · 21/07/2021 16:39

Yes you can get pinged from living in flats.
My friends were pinged because of this (they know this because neighbour tested positive and they didn't leave their flat on the day in question so impossible for it to be anything else).

Barbie222 · 21/07/2021 16:40

In your app, select "Settings" then "other data" I think. It will come up with your exposure date.

Original poster
Mrsfrumble · 21/07/2021 16:45

Thank you. Encounter date was yesterday. I’ll see if DH’s matches up. As with today, we were both out of the house but in separate places with separate people all day. Not that a coincidence couldn’t happen.

OP posts:
countrygirl99 · 21/07/2021 16:46

Bluetooth can not only work through walls it can't tell the difference between 2 metres and a longer distance within the devices range.

TheGenealogist · 21/07/2021 16:50

You do know you're under no legal obligation to adhere to the ping, don't you?

Original poster
Mrsfrumble · 21/07/2021 16:52

DH’s encounter date is the same. I’m strongly suspecting it’s the neighbour. (That sounds very accusatory; she’s lovely and it’s absolutely not her fault!)

I definitely want the children to go to school. They have 2 more days and their teachers have lots of lovely things planned.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrsfrumble · 21/07/2021 16:53

@TheGenealogist

You do know you're under no legal obligation to adhere to the ping, don't you?
I do. I’m a proper goody 2 shoes though!
OP posts:
Original poster
Mrsfrumble · 21/07/2021 16:57

@Barbie222

Bluetooth can't see Wales.
Then I’m deffo going there for my holidays 😂😂😂
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DeathByWalkies · 21/07/2021 18:02

This is definitely 'a thing' metro.co.uk/2021/07/16/covid-uk-neighbours-pinged-through-walls-by-nhs-test-and-trace-app-14938726/

I live in a flat so it's one of numerous reasons I haven't downloaded the app.

Test if it makes you feel happier, but then delete the app and get on with your life.

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