If test and trace contact you when on holiday…

[Thatswhathappens]

Just wondering as am off on holiday shortly, if test and trace contact you while you are on holiday (either abroad or in this country) can you isolate where you are? I have train tickets booked for a holiday and have return tickets for a specific date so would struggle to get home before that date, if test and trace contacted me when I was on holiday to say one of us had been near a positive contact what would I do?

From what I’ve seen you’d need to get home without using public transport at your own expense,

You could delete the app? I genuinely don't know anyone that didn't just delete it last year!

I don’t mean the app, I haven’t got it! I mean if test and trace call you? Can you then say you will self isolate in yourself holiday place?

Sorry typo I meant can you just say you will self isolate in the place you are on holiday? This is really worrying me as it is a low cost holiday and my children are in childcare until the day before we go and me and my partner are at work until the day before, I’m worried for instance if one of my colleagues test positive and then I get called by track and trace a few days into my holiday.

I wondered about this too.

It was in our holiday let terms and conditions that you couldn't use the property to self isolate.

The contact tracers tell you to make your way home to isolate without using public transport (easier said than done).

I think best not to answer the phone from unknown numbers, then this isn't a problem. Obviously if you actually got sick, it would be irresponsible to carry on as normal but given the number of people exempt from the ping, you shouldn't risk wrecking your holiday over a potential close contact.

I dont answer unknown callers.

But we are also not mixing with anyone in the seven days before our trip.

I don’t answer unknown callers either but do they not leave you voicemails and keep ringing you? I’m honestly tempted to leave my phone at home!

Obviously if one of us got sick I would follow correct precaution and also will test us all the day before we go.

Worth getting insurance even for a UK holiday. Staysure provides some cover for this eventuality and not expensive- I paid £50 for an annual European wide policy.

Is it possible to temporarily block all numbers except for those in your contacts list? Or mute your phone while out and about?

I’m so tempted to leave my phone at home as I use it for work too so don’t want to be getting work phone calls either but I’m not sure if that’s a really bad thing to do. I’m such a rule follower!

Chuck your phone in the river and buy a burner phone. Chuck your laptop too. Maybe buy a fake ID and a wig. I don't even know if I'm joking. Test and trace will have to hunt me down. I'll be eating hot doughnuts on a windy beach but I'm not telling anyone I know which one 😎

There's no law which says you must be contactable at all times. A holiday is supposed to be a break from normal life - if work are likely to contact you then definitely leave it at home. Or turn it off/leave it at the hotel when you go out and only check it when it suits you to. Then you can screen work messages and only deal with what is truly an emergency, rather than just stuff it's easier for work to ask you about than sort out themselves.

I would just ignore phone calls when using my phone and switch it off the rest of the time! I don't drive so don't know how they would expect me to get home without public transport

You can get insurance to cover UK hols for covid disruption I think.

You have said you don’t answer calls you don’t know. Turn your phone off-
You are on holiday!

@Invisimamma

I wondered about this too.

It was in our holiday let terms and conditions that you couldn't use the property to self isolate.

The contact tracers tell you to make your way home to isolate without using public transport (easier said than done).

"Do not go outside your home for any reason, that is to work, school or public areas, and do not use public transport or taxis."

I'm stumped as to what you're supposed to do if you can't drive...

DD was pinged while on a train six hour drive away. She was going to stay with a friend's family so couldn't go there. I couldn't get hold of DH who had car, and obviously a b&b wouldn't want her. Earliest we could have got her would have been 9 hours and she'd have been in train station into early hours, she'd have been hanging around waiting room, buying food etc. She doesn't drive. Have to admit I told her to double mask, keep santizing and get on next train back - she was lucky and had no one sat close to her. She was hungry and thirsty though.

I'm turning off my phone when we go away just in case. If they did get hold of me I'd go home but if they think I won't be stopping at the services for a wee they've got another think coming!

Why would test and trace call? How would they have your details?

@Blessex

Why would test and trace call? How would they have your details?

Well presumably if work contacts then the work or nursery will pass them over?

Ah ok - so work would hand over your details to test and trace. Well then in that case indeed just don’t answer calls from unknown numbers or leave your phone at home.

You can switch off voicemail so your phone just rings with no ability to leave a message.

Only answer numbers you know.

I take it the people who are saying don't answer your phone or block the number have never been contacted by test and trace. They sent me a text and email, they didn't ring but from other people I know they do that too.