Gold Coast Covid-19: Fears public buses could be ‘biggest superspreaders’

A Gold Coast man has raised the alarm on a loophole in the state government’s mandatory Check In app, fearing the oversight could expose vulnerable people to Covid-19.

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A GOLD Coast man says a loophole in the state government’s mandatory Check In app is double standards for struggling businesses and potentially exposing vulnerable people to Covid-19.

Queensland government-run TransLink buses are not required to display the Check In Qld QR code, despite hundreds of thousands of people using them each day.

Kirra resident and daily bus user Francis “Pongo” Heta said several Gold Coast TransLink routes did not follow social distancing and regular cleaning protocols.

“Potentially, they are the biggest transporters of Covid-19 coming into this state,” he said.

In recent weeks, he said he had seen people “jammed in like sardines” on buses during peak periods.

Mr Heta said buses he regularly travelled on were “never sanitised during the day”, including hard surfaces and touchpoints.

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He said TransLink services should follow the rules like every other business in the southeast.

“It is hypocrisy. I really believe that it is totally unfair on the rest of the business community here.”

Gold Coast GP Dr Sonu Haikerwal said she did not agree that a gathering of people on a bus could be considered a superspreading event.

But Dr Haikerwal said the use of QR codes on buses was a good idea.

“I would agree with this gentleman – that’s his main mode of transport – he would want to have all the precautions as everywhere else,” she said.

“It can’t be too difficult to check into a bus. If we have an outbreak, then we can contact those people and check their whereabouts.”

Dr Sonu Haikerwal says QR code check-ins on public buses are a good idea. Picture: Richard Gosling

A TransLink spokesman said it had worked with Queensland Health since the start of the pandemic and continued to follow their advice.

“As determined by Queensland Health legislation for non-restricted business, there is no requirement for customers to use the Check in Qld app (QR code) to travel. However, we encourage customers to register their go card to enable contact tracing.

“In line with current health advice, customers have been advised to ‘leave a gap’ where possible at stops and stations and on-board services.”

The spokesman said TransLink had a Covid-Safe Public Transport Plan in place since May 2020, and customers were also required to wear a face mask.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said there were no plans at this stage to expand the Check In Qld app to public and private transport providers.

“In addition to the hospitality sector, from July 9 2021, the Check In Qld app is mandatory for a number of new sectors. For example, including shopping centres, supermarkets, leisure and recreation facilities, public facing-government services, beauty and personal care services and venues that attract large crowds,” she said.

“While expansion to public and private transport providers is not on the cards right now, the Check In Qld app may be expanded to more businesses and services in the future.”

Originally published as Gold Coast Covid-19: Fears public buses could be ‘biggest superspreaders’