Contact tracing, a rant

[mazi]

It’s to be trialled on the Isle of Wight and everybody is to be encouraged to download it.

Please will someone tell our gov. that not everyone has, or can afford, or can use the necessary smartphone and associated unlimited access contract.

Mike

[familydar]

To be much use it will also require swab tests to be turned around quicker.  A family member was waiting 5 or 6 days

[avm228]

They know that not everyone can or will want to use the app. The target uptake is 50-60% of the population, according to the BBC. That leaves room for plenty of non-users.

[mazi]

They know that not everyone can or will want to use the app. The target uptake is 50-60% of the population, according to the BBC. That leaves room for plenty of non-users.

That does not quite fit with the statement “ the government will be asking the whole of the UK to download it”

[Crumblie]

The BBC has an article about how it works and it says the app will know the distance between people but not how long they were close to each other. So I can forsee big problems when they ring to ask about your contacts and you cannot even remember being close to the person who has tested positive. Just imagine how many people you come close to in even a short walk once the lockdown eases. What about if you have been close to someone who tests positive but you were back to back not face to face, you will get the third degree, swab etc. when there was very little risk. Lastly what about the person who is positive but has no symptoms, when you find you are positive how can you explain how it happened?

[Dundee]

So I can forsee big problems when they ring to ask about your contacts and you cannot even remember being close to the person who has tested positive. Just imagine how many people you come close to in even a short walk once the lockdown eases. What about if you have been close to someone who tests positive but you were back to back not face to face, you will get the third degree, swab etc. when there was very little risk. Lastly what about the person who is positive but has no symptoms, when you find you are positive how can you explain how it happened?

That is not how it works.  When a person with the app tests positive their phone data will show other phone users (who also have the app) that they have come in close contact with and those people will be notified and advised to be tested.

I think it is already too late for the UK to be doing any sort of contact tracing.

Debra 

[avm228]

They know that not everyone can or will want to use the app. The target uptake is 50-60% of the population, according to the BBC. That leaves room for plenty of non-users.

That does not quite fit with the statement “ the government will be asking the whole of the UK to download it”

Why not?

Everyone will be asked to download  and enable it if they can.

The government (reportedly) thinks if 50-60% actually do so then that will be adequate.

[Mike in Cumbria]

I think it is already too late for the UK to be doing any sort of contact tracing.

Or too early. It can only really work when the overall numbers of infections are much lower than at the moment. As lockdown continues to drive the numbers down, it will become more feasible.

[LizzieL]

Shouldn't we have been doing this two months ago when there were a handful of infections in the country, not when there are still 4000 plus new ones each day. About the time the government was saying we were three weeks behind Italy, no need for a lockdown, if my memory is right.