FFS Been pinged & were due to go on holiday tomorrow

[TheWindOnTheMoon]

Well that's it then. We have to cancel our holiday. This year feels like I have been cursed. I've had two eye operations to stop me going blind, and now this.

DH & I have been doubly vaccinated but the DC are too young.

Aaaaaarrrrggghhh

If you're going abroad then one of the issues is that if you do get covid while there, then you won't be able to fly back for at least a couple of weeks or until you no longer test positive. Obviously that's a risk with foreign holidays at the moment anyway but just thought I'd mention as everyone has only focused on protecting others and it being OK to still travel from that perspective. How would it affect you if your return was delayed?

Ignore it. The system is a joke at the moment. DC and I were at a party with someone who tested positive a day later. I wasn't in close contact really but DC were playing with him all day. Track and trace didn't even want our details. Morally they should be isolating but legally we have no obligation. In 2 weeks time we wouldn't have to isolate and although iv stuck to the rules throughout I'm feeling a bit fuck it now tbh. If the rules are changing and track and trace aren't interested why should I care.

Just about all the official online information is still listing the original 3 symptoms to look out for and not bothered to update it to reflect how it presents in fully vaccinated people, I’m guessing there are thousands of people wandering around thinking their headache, sneezing and sore throats are colds and not covid.

The app where you get pinged is useless if they’re not even bothering to let people know that if they’re vaccinated covid symptoms are different.

Delete the app, go on your hols and forget it.

They are changing the guidance/rules in a week or so so that double vaxxed don't need to isolate if they are pinged anyway - so I really would just ignore actually, unless you've been licking door handles etc.

My friend was pinged because a person in the office next door tested positive. She has never seen this person but its company policy. She is thrilled because she can wfh for a fortnight, but she has deleted the app now.

Delete the app, do lateral flows and go!

In the nicest possible way OP, you need to get a grip. You could of been a carrier of covid asymptomatically well before now and not realised. It’s just the app, not track and trace. Delete the app, go enjoy your holiday and do regular lateral flows.

@nordica

If you're going abroad then one of the issues is that if you do get covid while there, then you won't be able to fly back for at least a couple of weeks or until you no longer test positive. Obviously that's a risk with foreign holidays at the moment anyway but just thought I'd mention as everyone has only focused on protecting others and it being OK to still travel from that perspective. How would it affect you if your return was delayed?

Ah is this def right? I was wondering this myself as have a weekend away booked without my kids and that's my only issue if I get it over there I might get stranded. My friend told me that I would be able to fly back but just isolate when home. But if I can't fly back then I shouldn't actually go. Fucks sake fuck you COVID!!

Delete the app, do a lateral flow test, if negative then go on holiday. Just be sensible with mask wearing, hand sanitising etc, which I'm sure you are anyway.

Are you in self-catering accommodation?

You can’t let your children and DH down at the last minute!! Just go!! There is no requirement to do what the app says. You have been in the supermarket or cafe at the same time as someone with covid. That’s all it means. Well - I’m sure we all have! They’ll probably be someone with covid in the Tesco’s I’m going to today, and I may well get close to them. This virus will hang around and we have to live with it. Please don’t let this ruin you and your family’s holiday!! Fwiw, I know lots of people who were pinged before holiday and they all went.

If you had been named as a contact by track and trace I’d say cancel but the app is a joke. Delete it, test yourself then go. Honestly it’s not worth cancelling a holiday when you know you haven’t been in contact with anyone.

Yes that is right. You have to test in your holiday destination country in order to enter the uk. If you test positive you can't travel.

You can come into the country in close contact with a plane load of passengers without isolating if you're double jabbed. In 11 days time, you won't even have to isolate even if you have been identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive if you are double jabbed (and testing won't even be mandatory - just advised). So I see no logic in you missing your holiday because a not fit for purpose app has pinged you.

Enjoy your holiday

@FflosFfantastig

I really don't understand why people have the app and then complain about getting pinged. The app is optional. Delete it. Do regular testing. If you're well go and enjoy it God knows we've all been cooped up for long enough.

I completely agree! I don’t have the app and have no intention of getting it. There is no way I am isolating on a ‘maybe you were a close contact’ which is what I consider the app would do. I’m self employed, I won’t get paid to isolate and I do not have a magic supply of cash lying around waiting for me to have a week off for nothing. If Boris honestly wanted everyone isolating from the app, it would be law and there would be Proper financial help for those forced to isolate. I would delete the app and enjoy my holiday if I were you OP.

lifehappened I imagine it varies by country, but when I was on holiday in Greece in June a man tested positive for his pre-flight lateral flow and had to stay out there for a further 10 days in a government quarantine hotel, as did his girlfriend. I'd been in close contact with him but as my test was negative AND I'm double vaxxed, I didn't have to isolate and could go home the next day.

Too late now but why have the app??!!! I would do a test. Almost inevitably negative and then go away and enjoy yourselves..

Delete the app, go on the holiday.

Why have the app if you're going to "just" ignore it?

@SofiaMichelle

Why have the app if you're going to "just" ignore it?

Can't speak for the OP but when I got pinged I'd forgotten I even had the app. I'd downloaded it months ago. Swiftly deleted.

I've had a long talk with DH. He's going to get some LFTs this morning and we will test today and take some with us. Will still go on holiday as it's in this country and we can get home quickly if we need to.

Thanks to everyone for putting everything into perspective. Tbh I hardly go anywhere - haven't been well enough to but had had to keep app on because of regular hospital post op check ups so probably my fault for leaving contact tracing on. Will delete app now. Obvs if we get a positive test then will cancel holiday.

LFT are pretty crap by the way- only 40% accurate partly due to misuse (very hard to get a real sample.)

You can be infected and have too low a viral load for them to pick it up.

It's also REALLY hard to swab your tonsils properly and the nasal swabbing isn't so accurate.

Having said that you are not legally obliged to follow the app.

I'd get a box of LFT anyway, go and test yourselves every other day.

I don’t understand why you just didn’t turn off the app a couple of weeks ago🤷‍♀️ bit late now, but that would have removed the worry. Given the constant news coverage of how many people are being pinged, I’m surprised anyone is still using the app TBH.

We turned off the app and I actively avoided busy places before we came away and are now trying to avoid anywhere that feels too crowded now we are away.
COVID is a risk all the time, go on your holiday, take LFT’s and do them regularly and delete the sodding app now or you will never get any peace!

I’m glad you’ve made the decision to go Op. have a fabulous time. Hope you all stay well.

I wouldn't cancel and isolate over this.

I don't have the app anymore. I deleted it after I got pinged from being in Costa Coffee, ordering in a queue that just had me in it and sitting in a corner of an almost empty shop. Nobody within a few meters of me. Ridiculous.

I now pretend to scan the codes and I miss a digit off my phone number if writing down details. Im not risking test and trace enforcing isolations on us during the summer holidays when I'm a sensible person, keep a safe distance and don't generally go to 'high risk' places. Myself and my husband have had both vaccines.

My kids have had several bubble closures and had a lot of disappointment like so many others. It's largely in our control now they are off school what we are prepared to adhere to. So unless any of us have key symptoms, we will be cracking on as normal.

I don't understand why peopke have app on their phones?
If I had an expensive holiday in the pipeline I would be deleting the app within minutes of booking.