Overview
Among the many strategies in place to help combat the spread of COVID-19, tracking and tracing the contacts of confirmed cases ranks alongside hand hygiene and social distancing as one of the most important. In New South Wales, since hospitality venues were given the green light to slowly start to reopen, they've been asked to keep a record of their patrons to help with contract tracing efforts. At the end of this month, however, they'll be required to do so via QR codes.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the news today, Wednesday, November 4, alongside another big revelation — the opening of the state's border with Victoria. Both will come into effect on the same date: Monday, November 23.
"From that day, the use of QR codes for hospitality businesses within NSW will be compulsory," said Premier Berejiklian, noting that "there is no reason why, within the next three weeks, businesses that all businesses shouldn't have QR codes". Venues can adopt their own, or they can go with the Service NSW QR code system — which is recommended by the government because it enables the state to get messages to customers quickly. Also, for customers, it means that they won't have to keep inputting their details into a plethora of different systems.
"We believe the dual strategy — of opening up our borders to all Australian citizens, all New Zealand citizens, in addition to making use of QR codes compulsory for hospitality businesses — is an important step forward," advised Premier Berejiklian.
Accordingly, both NSW residents and visitors from elsewhere should prepare to have their phone in their hand when they head to a cafe, bar, pub or restaurant from the end of November — as you'll be needing it to register your details upon arrival.
Trent van der Jagt
NSW Health will also be asked to talk to community organisations, such as places of worship, to discuss how to manage the collection of data in other venues to ensure compliance with contract tracing requirements. Nothing compulsory will be put in place for those types of sites as yet, but the state is keen to ensure that "all community organisations and all other sections of the community where people will be having interactions do have a system whereby health officials can maintain contact quickly if there is a case, because we know that will be even more challenging moving forward," the Premier said.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.