NHS Tracker App
Comments
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Be sure you download only the genuine app, Wreaker. To be even more secure, only download it from the Apple App Store or Google Play where it will have been security checked first.
As David said, I only needed to supply my postcode. I’m the cautious type but was happy with this.
I don’t know which country of the UK you live in but this is the 'real' England & Wales app.
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As David said, I only needed to supply my postcode. I’m the cautious type but was happy with this.
Same for us; very, very wary of downloading anything, but downloaded it from Google Play and the only details asked for was our postcode, nothing else. I was initially thinking name, full address etc would be asked for, but no, only postcode, nothing else.
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not quite right ....
"It is important that we have confidence that the NHS app will work for officers and staff consistently across the country, and it is for this reason that we have recommended that officers and staff download the app to their personal, as opposed to work devices, rather than any suggestion of security implications."
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It's been made clear that requests to self isolate received via the app are unenforceable because of the anonymity. It means they don't know who you are or anything about you so I can't see any concerns.
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I know it depends on where one is but on average how long does it take to get a test and then receive the results? The reason for the question, on Friday evening I went out to a restaurant (the first time in many weeks and for our wedding anniversary) where the Covid precautions looked excellent. One way systems in place, tables between 3 and 4 metres apart and plenty of sanitisers around.
Last night, Monday, I got an alert on my phone to tell me I had been near someone who had tested positive for Covid. The restaurant was the only place I had been to since downloading the app so it must be connected to someone at an adjacent table. If this assumption is correct how did they realise they had Covid symptoms after being at the restaurant and then get a test done and get the results back in the space of less than 72 hours and over a weekend? Or did they go to the restaurant knowing they were positive, a bit like the Scottish MP?
At first I thought it might be a glitch on the app as I had always worked on the principle of the 'danger' point being less than 2 metres apart for 15 minutes or more and the tables were much further apart than that. But this, apparently, isn't the case. The app adds up points at the rate of 300 points per 5 minutes of close proximity if 0 to 2 metres apart and then 150 points per 5 minutes for a distance of between 2 and 4 metres. When the score reaches 900 the alert is triggered so in our case 30 minutes or more. If greater than 4 metres the app doesn't work.
The bottom line is that I have to self isolate for another 10 days and hope I don't go down with it but one thing is for sure, I won't be going to a restaurant again any time soon as I know of none that have tables spread more than 4 metres apart and a meal usually takes far longer than 30 minutes.
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14 days minus the 3 between the event and the alert?
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Anyway, that’s real bad luck.
All the best.
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Thankfully I've got plenty to do at home. We haven't been out much since March although we are recently back from two weeks in Dorset and Devon so I've got a few hundred photos to sort out. We also have a fairly big garden to look after, (by modern standards), and I've got a couple of DIY projects on the go so I don't think I'll be bored. The next 10 days will go reasonably quickly I hope. Just hope that whoever we were near didn't actually pass anything on.
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Hope you manage to get a test, and that it proves negative, John.
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The App has instructed me NOT to get a test unless I / we have symptoms. At present neither I nor Jane have any symptoms at all.
What I still can't get my head around is that someone can be in a restaurant on a Friday evening then think they have symptoms, book a test, get that done, get the result and then for the App to notify me on Monday to self-isolate all in the space of 72 hours (and over a weekend). My conclusions at this moment in time is that either the person with Covid already knew they were positive when they went to the restaurant (frightening) or it is a glitch in the system.
First time out since downloading the App and this happens!
I have posed this scenario to the Covid App Support section but as yet no reply of any sort from them.
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I suppose if they woke up feeling unwell on Saturday and managed to get a test that day, they might have got the result on Monday. I would assume as soon as they enter the code they are given re the positive test in the App, the alert to you would be instantaneous. No humans are involved, the contact between you is just stored as code on yours and their phones. That is how the government intended the App would work, although it does depend on getting a test plus result quickly.
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I've finished my 14 days now and pleased to say that neither of us had any symptoms so we're free to go out now.
What still amazes me is that on only one website (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54250736) does it explain that being closer than 4 metres from someone can elicit a handshake between two adjacent phones and, if that handshake lasts for 30 minutes or more then should one or other of the phone owners get tested positive the other would get the alert. If this is so, and it must be for me to have received the alert, why aren't the public being made more aware of this instead of creating a false sense of security by implying that over two metres is a safe distance?
I've put this question to the support section of the App but all I got back was a useless referral to their website. About as much use as a chocolate fireguard.
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John
Thanks for reporting back, glad you are both OK.
On your point about the two metres I had always thought of that as a safe gap if you are in transit so to speak or only still for short periods of time like paying for something at a till. We have not been in a restaurant or pub since very much earlier in the year as we would just not feel comfortable regardless of how good the precautions in place. We have had coffee out a couple of time but on both occasions the spacing been very good and by the nature of a coffee you are probably not there that long. However interesting point you make and just confirms to me how unlikely it will be for us to venture out to such venues anytime soon.
David
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It's possibly to do with molecules from the virus lingering in the air in enclosed spaces, a few hours I believe, so the metre distance is only part of the problem.
Glad you're ok John. We've had this in our family, a seemingly distant contact resulted in a chaos of self isolation for a working nephew and family.
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Well, I and other friends have fired off emails to the Club having just discovered the info regarding the app.
On the website page there is NO indication that using the app is optional, it implies that members will not be admitted to sites without it.
We knew the NHS app scheme is voluntary, but wondered if clubs could impose their own ruling on this.
As we don't have smart phones , naturally we were concerned.
Now I read this 'Discussion ' forum and find using the app is, of course, not mandatory in order to access sites.
I fully support the Club in protecting members, and realise that they want to promote use of the app, but being economical with information will only surely lead to a deluge of enquiries for the staff to answer !
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You do not need a smartphone to check in at club sites.
See the other thread -
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