Businesses scramble to meet COVID sign-in requirements

Brisbane businesses were yesterday scrambling to ensure they would meet today’s swap to electronic COVID registers.

Brisbane businesses were yesterday scrambling to ensure they would meet today’s swap to electronic COVID registers, with some restaurant employees telling The Courier-Mail they weren’t fully aware of the coming change.

Several businesses along West End’s popular Boundary Street were yesterday still using self-made pen and paper logs for customers dining in, despite being told to get their “house in order” by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk days prior.

A Madame G employee said they weren’t aware of when the venue move to electronic sign-ins. Pictures: David Clark

When asked if they were aware of today’s change and potential fines if digital registers weren’t implemented, three separate establishments stated they would have the digital practice implemented in time, but couldn’t disclose if they actually had the proper signage and QR code ready to scan today.

One employee of Chinese restaurant Madame G told The Courier-Mail that they weren’t aware of when they would be swapping from their paper sign in to the digital register, admitting that their manager was actually out of the country at the time.

PJ's Steaks was one of several venues still using paper sign-ins yesterday. Pictures: David Clark

Other West End venues like PJ Steaks, Yori Jori, Fat Carrot and Eat Mii cafe were also still using paper sign-ins to record their customers yesterday, but staff and management at all four restaurants were unable to produce the QR codes needed to pass compliance.

Despite not having the QR codes in the restaurant, one manager from Yori Jori said she’d believe the change would be a “safer” alternative for customers.

“It would be easier to keep track with and easier for customers to sign in with,” she said.