Hunter Covid: October 11 reopening for businesses could be a logistical nightmare without app
It should be happy times as businesses can re-open on October 11. But instead, without a vaccine app, ready they’re stressing about how it will all come together.
Newcastle
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A Lake Macquarie restaurant owner said it will be a “logistical nightmare” when businesses re-open to customers on October 11 without a ready-to-go vaccine app.
The State Government’s app designed to make it easier for patrons to prove their vaccination status when checking into a hospitality venue won’t be ready by the time NSW reopens, instead lagging behind schedule as a pilot program takes effect.
Owner of Salina’s Restaurant at Belmont Dee Fonti said they will probably have to delay reopening until October 25, firstly because all their staff won’t be double vaccinated and secondly because the absence of a vaccine app will essentially mean a “shitshow” in managing patrons.
“It’s just too hard, we would have to have multiple full time staff just being at the door trying to negotiate who is coming in, how do they find it on their phones,” she said.
“A lot of older people might need help and if they can’t sign in then they probably won’t be able to access a MyGov website to find their vaccination reports.
“Then there’s the ones who will demand they are let in anyway, or trying to convince you it’s OK they’re not vaccinated, the confrontation with that.”
Ms Fonti said it’s been stressful enough for their staff who are mostly under 30 and haven’t been able to get the vaccine yet.
Now businesses are expected to play rule maker for customers who want to come in and dine.
“This next month is going to be very tricky and without an app then we are being put in a really difficult position as to not allowing people onto the property,” Ms Fonto explained.
“It’s going to messy, aggressive and cause all sorts of problems, and after everything we have faced, now having to deal with these volatile situations is really stressful.”
Member for Swansea and Shadow Minister for Customer Service Yasmin Catley said the vaccine app is a critical tool to the road map of reopening up the state, yet it won’t be ready in time.
“Businesses are going to have to police the vaccine status of their patrons and by not having this tool, it makes very difficult for them and going to create very difficult conversations with their patrons,” she said on Friday.
“We know businesses have been screaming for certainty all along.
“They aren’t equip to challenge people’s vaccine requirements, that’s not what they signed up for.”
“The State Government are leaving our small business people exposed and leaving them in a very precarious position.”
Ms Catley said while the vaccination certificate is available on other platforms like My Gov and the Medicare Express app, it’s not good enough.
“Sure we have the Medicare app but it’s clunky and its clumsy,” she added.
“We’ve had time to prepare this but unfortunately the infrastructure hasn’t been put in place for our pathway to freedom.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for everybody. We need to make sure we’re not putting too much stress and strain on those who have to implement it.”
But while it might be an arduous process come October 11, NSW Australian Hotels Association (AHA) said they’ll make it work.
“The combination of the QR Check-in and vaccination status in one app would make for a more seamless entry, however we are eager and capable of opening our doors safely from the 11th,” AHA NSW Director of Liquor and Policing John Green said.
“Hotels are used to working within regulations on who can enter their premises – including intoxication, underage and most recently, QR codes so this is just an additional, but temporary measure.
“It may take a little longer to check-in to venues, so we ask that patrons be respectful to staff who are just doing their job in compliance with Government requirements to keep staff and patrons safe.”
Last week Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said it was “aiming” to pilot the new function vaccine app in a regional area from October 6.
He revealed that an additional QR code will be added to the Service NSW app sometime in October, to enable businesses to ensure patrons aren’t faking the check-in process.
“That will validate that this is a Service NSW product,” he said.
He said businesses will need to take “reasonable steps” to ensure patrons aren’t breaking the rules.
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