The "Pingdemic"

[Deskdiary]

I never bothered downloading the App for fear that I might get pinged because I may have been in the vague vicinity of somebody who may or may not have been infected, but if the reports are true, there's many many people now stuck at home completely unnecessarily causing economic harm to themselves and their employers.

Is it time to ditch it?

[fiveleaves]

I have got it but only switch it on when I have to scan a QR code.

[piggynose]

link, please.

[Mamyalynne]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-57820537

[New Judge]

// NJ, if folk can do their work at home, whether they're civil servants or no, why shouldn't they? //

If they can (and there are even arguments against that). But most of them cannot. Virtually every business that you try to contact answers its phone with "Because of Covid...." or "Many of our staff are working from home and you may have to wait a little longer..." (or variations on that theme). Businesses have had a year to adjust to Covid. Many of them suggest that their staff will be more likely to continue to work from home if and when the pandemic restrictions are ever lifted. Yet they cannot provide a proper service to their customers under that arrangement. It is an excuse for shoddy and second rate service and people are putting up with it "because of Covid." Well it doesn't work and it no longer washes.

[jourdain2]

Like Mamya, "Yes, it's time we ditched it". I don't have a smartphone so don't have the app. anyway. Elder daughter and sister have switched it off - they can't afford to take time off work. We very rarely go out anywhere that could be crowded, but like Deskdiary, we just make-up a phone number if asked. Locally, in pubs etc., they know who we are.

[William51]

Yes, it should be ditched, or ignored. It is holding back getting back to normal.

[Atheist]

William, it's covid which is holding us back from returning to normal. We need to fight it, not pretend it's not there.

[New Judge]

//Elder daughter and sister have switched it off - they can't afford to take time off work.//

They don't have to take time off work, jourdain. Those "pinged" by the app are only advised to self-isolate. It is not mandatory. Only if you are contacted by the Track & Trace team is it compulsory. From tomorrow the requirement to "sign in" to pubs and restaurants is lifted (for the time being, at least, until the politicians get spooked by the scientists again).

[Gromit]

New cases yesterday.
UK 54,600
Germany 1,300.

We are getting something dreadfully wrong - again!

[eve1974]

Yes it’s time to ditch it. It’s crazy. Always has been. So just cos you’re in the vague vicinity of someone who had the virus doesn’t necessarily mean you’d get it yourself.

Silly idea - probably meant to instil some sort of comfort to the masses

[Gromit]

The app pinged 500,000 people last week.
And about 250,000 people have actually caught covid over the same period.
The politicians say the app is pinging too many people, and they will make the app send out less alerts. No mention of how they will tackle 50,000+ new infections daily.

[tomus42]

The app will be ignored by those that it will create a problem for and waved as a get out of jail free card for those that it won't. I'll either be ignoring it or waving it depending on what date I get pinged.

[naomi24]

//No mention of how they will tackle 50,000+ new infections daily.//

They won't have to 'tackle' anywhere near that figure because most will experience little or no effect.

[Peter Pedant]

they re stuck at home because they are frit
fear is the only thing

a few of us are immuno suppressed - and one turned to me and said: if I am gonna have a short life, I am determined I shall enjoy it

[William51]

Yes or no. My opinion is that it should be kept but the receivers actions should be entirely voluntary.