The Lemon Fool

I recently had to take a PCR covid test, in advance of a hospital outpatient appointment, and the result (negative) was texted to my mobile phone. Together with an eight character code which I was instructed to enter into the NHS Covid-19 app, apparently so that my self-isolation advice can be updated.

The thing is, I don't have the NHS app on my mobile - partly because I live in a rural 3G notspot, but mostly because I don't (at present) go out much, let alone to the sorts of places that would require a QR scan for entry. (Whatever that is, and however that works? I have only the foggiest idea. ) But if I ignore this admonition to plug my "all-clear" code into the NHS app that I don't have , what's the worst that can happen?

Will I be refused entry to B&Q the next time I go there? Has the NHS effectively tagged me already, via my home address and mobile number? Or is it mostly an exercise in epidemiological data collection?

BJ

Your negative test result is a bit like an MOT result - only really valid on the day it was done but often taken as an indication of safety for a little while after.

Scanning the code at B&Q (with the app you don't have) - or entering your contact details on the record sheet won't be linked to a negative test. If you subsequently test positive, the track and trace process should find out where you've been....

However, scanning or recording contact details isn't a requirement at B&Q (at least it wasn't a couple of weeks ago)

bungeejumper wrote:I recently had to take a PCR covid test, in advance of a hospital outpatient appointment, and the result (negative) was texted to my mobile phone. Together with an eight character code which I was instructed to enter into the NHS Covid-19 app, apparently so that my self-isolation advice can be updated.

Was there an option to instead have your test results emailed to you? Then it is a simple matter to print those results and show the document to whoever wants to see your result. I am always wary about such things on a phone for fear I will have a technical issue at the critical juncture.

If you don't enter the code into your phone, it won't give you updated self-isolation advice, as it says.

If you weren't self-isolating before you took the test, there's no way a negative test can require you to self-isolate, so nothing changes, and that's all the app would tell you. If you were, a negative test may in some circumstances allow you to stop doing so earlier, which the app would work out for you - or you can read the NHS advice and work out the relevant dates for yourself.