Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread

[Rab]

Ka-pi96 said:

Rab said:

Think about how hard it is to deal with the untrusting, hostile public as a contact tracer

The constant use of misinformation and politicising is having dangerous consequences around the World   

https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-55280321 

Quote:

"In all honesty, I have been shocked and disgusted by my experience.

The most common negative experiences include frustration at unanswered calls, calls going to voicemail repeatedly, calls being blocked, phones being slammed down when you introduce yourself, and sometimes an unpleasant attitude when the call does get answered. People are called 10 or even 15 times before they are marked as a failed follow-up. Every unsuccessful call has to be documented, further wasting our time.

Very few people could genuinely think it's a scam. When a call goes to voicemail we leave a message explaining that we are from Test and Trace, giving the number we are calling from and asking the individual to look out for calls from that number. They are also invited to check this information on the gov.uk website.

When someone has actually answered the phone, I've had a few shocking exchanges.

For example, when I asked one person to go through the questions with me, the answer was: "Oh I can't just now - because I'm in Starbucks." Now, this person has had a positive test and should be isolating. They've had a text telling them they are Covid-positive, yet they are still out in Starbucks infecting other people!"

Hard to feel sympathy for them for that when it's their own fault. If the government had banned annoying sales/scam calls like they should have done then maybe people would actually be willing to answer when the government is calling them for something important.

I personally never answer calls or listen to voicemail from numbers I don't know (also don't answer the door unless I'm expecting somebody) and the government allowing sales calls and jehovahs and whatnot is the reason for that.

So if you're talking about the "untrusting, hostile public" then maybe they shouldn't have made people that way. If you keep allowing somebody to be poked with a stick then you shouldn't be at all surprised when they're not willing to help you when you want a favour.

How is it the individual call tracers fault??? they are doing a job, they have no say in government policy, they are just people receiving abuse, what an ass thing to say! 

They do leave voice mail, so if people leave their number at a restaurant so the government can contact them in an emergency, then people should at least listen to voice mail in these trying times expecting a possible call about covid infection   

It's always easy to blame others when you cant be arsed to take responsibility

I know in Australia people do check these things and have been really compliant with orders that have had a huge benefit to Australia's community as a whole  

Last edited by Rab - on 18 December 2020