MSE News: Been 'pinged' by the NHS Covid app? Martin Lewis explains what support you can get

sheramber

Who told them restrictions were being lifted. The press.

What the  Prime Minister said on 19 July was the restrictions were easing.

Contact tracing and self-isolation requirements remain in place.

Pollycat

sheramber said:

Who told them restrictions were being lifted. The press.

What the  Prime Minister said on 19 July was the restrictions were easing.

Contact tracing and self-isolation requirements remain in place.

Not according to this:

Businesses are also encouraged to continue displaying QR codes for customers wishing to check in using the NHS COVID-19 app, or to continue collecting customer contact details to support NHS Test and Trace, however this will no longer be a legal requirement.

Source:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do#lifting-restrictions

sheramber

Pollycat said:

sheramber said:

Who told them restrictions were being lifted. The press.

What the  Prime Minister said on 19 July was the restrictions were easing.

Contact tracing and self-isolation requirements remain in place.

Not according to this:

Businesses are also encouraged to continue displaying QR codes for customers wishing to check in using the NHS COVID-19 app, or to continue collecting customer contact details to support NHS Test and Trace, however this will no longer be a legal requirement.

Source:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-coronavirus-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-do#lifting-restrictions

While  businesses no longer have to operate track and trace measures on their premises, track and trace ans self isolation has not been done away with completely.

It is still in operation when someone proves to be positive for covid.

The point being that the Government never told anybody all restrictions were lifted  as said above.

sheramber

Pinging has gone mad because people are mixing in close contact as a result of easing of the restrictions.

Since covid is still out there it is not surprising that more and more people are coming into close contact with someone who is positive as a consequence.

Easing lockdown has not had the result that  hospitality was anticipated.

Be careful what you wish for.

lisyloo

briskbeats said:

lisyloo said:

briskbeats said:

lisyloo said:

briskbeats said:

p3ncilsharpener said:

briskbeats said:

Delete the app. It’s destroying companies, such as some shops having to close, disrupting deliveries etc.

I was told that the app should not be used by people living in flats. Bluetooth doesn’t detect levels. Plus the other week, I could pick up the Bluetooth devices that my neighbour who lives below me. 

Hope Boris and co push forward the date for double jabbed people not needing to self isolate - which is currently 16th Aug.

People won't delete it as long as they're paid their full salaries for self isolating.

If I ran any of these companies screaming for staff I'd pay them, at most, SSP for self-isolating.  Watch them come flooding back when the gravy train dries up.

SSP is rubbish- £92 a week. Plus partner and other household members who work can’t afford to have 10-17 days of SSP. Rent/mortgage, bills etc still need to be paid

If those people can't afford the sickness arrangements they currently have, did they not consider insurance? or financial planning?

Do most insurance companies only pay out after several months of sickness?

It depends on the policy you select.
The shorter the period then the more expensive the policy for sure.
Most people in permanent jobs who get sick pay would line it up with their employer benefits. So for example if they get 13 weeks sick pay then one option would be to get insurance that pays out after 13 weeks.
The alternative would be (for example) to have a 3 month emergency fund in savings and get a policy that pays out after 26 weeks.

The cheapest way to cover for short periods would be "self insurance"
i.e. with average luck you are better off using your own savings than an insurance policy.
The same applies to most household goods.

I mentioned financial planning in the general sense as options other than insurance are often viable
e.g. savings being the obvious one.

But to have no plan whatsoever when as you mentioned people have commitments is not really a good idea.

What would happen if they were sick for reasons other than COVID?
Presumably they'd still be in the same position with rent/mortgage/bills so this isn't a problem that's specific to COVID or self-isolation.
It's a lack of a financial plan that's been highlighted by the pandemic but could have happened due to flu, bad back, cancer etc.

With Covid, if one person in household tests positive for it, the others in the household have to self isolate too. With other illnesses, 99% of the time, its just the ill person off work and the others can work as per normal.

Just because there are unknowns or it's a bit tricky doesn't mean you shouldn't bother :-)

I'd suggest savings for short term sicknes/isolation/income cover, ideally 3 months living costs.
This is not a new idea at all.
You can get help from a professional financial advisor or DIY from sites like this.

You need financial planning that covers multiple scenarios not just one.
Here are some examples - fire, flood, accident, illness, car crash etc.
There isn't a one-fits all simple solution.

The advantage of savings is that you can use it whenever you wish as opposed to fitting insurance policy criteria. Savings falls down when large amounts are required.
Insurance is better for large amounts that go beyond savings e.g. entire house burning down.

If you're on here you should be able to find plenty of guides and help.

lisyloo

sheramber said:

Pinging has gone mad because people are mixing in close contact as a result of easing of the restrictions.

Since covid is still out there it is not surprising that more and more people are coming into close contact with someone who is positive as a consequence.

Easing lockdown has not had the result that  hospitality was anticipated.

Be careful what you wish for.

I am not sure most of us expected restrictions to be lifted whilst cases were relatively high.