The NSW Government is urging venues to put the safety of customers and staff first and have a system for digital registration such as a QR code that records patrons’ names and contact details in place by 23 November, or risk facing penalties.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said digital registration, including QR codes, is fast, accurate and will give customers more confidence during a pandemic.
“Any business that is serious about safety should be using digital registration, such as a QR code or other method of capturing contact details electronically. There are no excuses. We can’t respond to a pandemic with paper. We must be fast and precise and digital is the best way forward. We have to move away from the walk-in culture to the check-in culture. This is about building resilience as we continue to open up as safely as possible heading into summer,” Minister Vi
“The overwhelming majority of businesses do the right thing but inspectors have told us that some just don’t get it and have inadequate check-in systems. Complacency is our greatest threat and any business that thinks they are above the law will face serious penalties,” Minister Victor said.
“I strongly encourage businesses to download a free NSW Government QR code and for customers to use the COVID Safe Check In through the Service NSW app. So far more than 16,000 businesses have used a NSW Government QR code and 94 percent of customers have given the COVID Safe Check In the thumbs up,” Minister Victor said.
Scanning a NSW Government QR code captures the business name, address and the customer’s contact details. The information is securely stored for 28 days for the sole purpose of contact tracing and can be instantly accessed by NSW Health in the event of an outbreak. After this time, it will be destroyed.
For customers who do not have access to a smartphone, venues are encouraged to record their contact details and time of entry using a digital device.
If there is an internet outage, venues can manually acquire details digitally, for example in Excel.
Digital registration will be mandatory for the following venues from 23 November:
Amusement Centres
Aquariums
Business premises that are used for auction houses, other than clearing houses
Business premises that are used for nail salons, beauty salons, hairdressing salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, spas, tattoo parlours and massage parlours
Crematoria
Drive-in cinemas
Entertainment facilities
Hospitality venues:
Casinos (all persons entering the premises)
Food and drink premises (all persons consuming food or drink on the premises, plus staff and contractors)
Micro-breweries, small distilleries holding a drink on-premises authorisation under the Liquor Act 2007 or cellar door premises (all persons consuming food or drink on the premises, plus staff and contractors)
Pubs, small bars and registered clubs (all persons entering the premises, but not if they are entering the premises solely for the purpose of collecting food or drink to consume off the premises)
Function centres
Funeral homes
Information and education facilities (other than libraries)
Party buses
Properties operated by the National Trust or the Historic Houses Trust
Public swimming pools
Recreation facilities (indoor)
Recreation facilities (major)
Sex on premises venues
Sex services premises
Strip clubs
Vessels used for hosting functions or for commercial tours Zoological parks and reptile parks
Events
Corporate events
Funerals and memorial services and gathering after funerals and memorial services
Wedding services and gatherings after wedding services