Local venues must use electronic registration systems such as QR codes to record the names and contact details of patrons, or risk serious penalties, under new COVID-19 rules.
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Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said electronic registrations are easy to use and will help authorities with rapid contact tracing in the event a case attended a venue while potentially infectious.
"The overwhelming majority of local businesses are doing the right thing but we cannot be complacent. With summer now with us we must remain vigilant," Mrs Williams said.
"Digital systems are contactless and safer to use, and allow NSW Health to respond faster to outbreaks. Inspectors will be out in the community enforcing compliance and will crack down on wrongdoing.
"So far more than 31,000 businesses across the State (including 289 businesses in Port Macquarie) have used a NSW Government QR code and 94 per cent of customers have given the COVID Safe Check In the thumbs up."
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 if needed. After this time, it will be destroyed.
For customers who do not have access to a smartphone, venues should record their contact details and time of entry using an electronic device. If there is an internet outage, venues can record the necessary contact details manually and then enter them electronically, for example into a spreadsheet such as Excel.
Mrs Williams also said local customers can now use the Service NSW app to check in and check out when they next head to a café, restaurant or COVID Safe-registered business displaying a NSW Government QR code.
"The 'Check Out' functionality is a voluntary process that gives customers an extra layer of reassurance by capturing the time spent at a business," Mrs Williams said.
"Customers simply need to select 'Check Out Now' when they're leaving the premises, to record the date and time they left in the Service NSW app. This will help authorities to identify people who may have been exposed to a case with more precision."
Digital registration is mandatory for the following:
Venues
- 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
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