Tough new QR code crackdown to help Victorian contact tracers

With our contact tracing system pushed to the brink, new rules will force Victorians to sign in to every store — no matter the duration of the visit.

Victorians grabbing a takeaway coffee at a corner store or buying milk at a supermarket will have to sign in under sweeping changes to boost contact tracing.

The strict new measures replace a previous directive that only enforced venue sign-ins for customers inside for more than 15 minutes.

Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said the change to requirements on business and shoppers was about doing “absolutely everything in our power” to chase down any possible infection.

Major brand supermarkets are ready to raise awareness of mandatory sign-ins, which can be done manually if a shopper doesn’t have digital phone capabilities.

But they have asked for shoppers to treat staff with respect amid fears of potential angst about the new rules.

Blackboard Varsity general manager Wayne Keating with a QR Code system to electronically store your details when you wish to dine in for breakfast and coffee. Picture Glenn Hampson

The about-face comes after the Andrews Government brought in a uniform QR code system under the Service Victoria app last week, to make the system easier to navigate for consumers.

Now, anyone who has a smart phone can download the Service Victoria app and point their camera at a unique code located on a shop window or table, which will take them to a simple check-in page with contact details pre-filled.

Those details are only used if there is a large-scale outbreak and contact tracers need to get in touch with anyone who has visited an exposure site.

Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

Acting premier James Merlino said the mandatory check-in requirements would be brought into place for all “retail settings such as supermarkets and shops”.

Prof Sutton said there had been concerns about compliance with the use of QR codes previously but he believes Victorians now understand the importance of the system.

“I think everyone recognises that we have to do absolutely everything in our power to be able to chase down every single person who might be exposed, because that one person who’s not found might be the one who spreads (the virus),” he said.

“The supermarkets are highly motivated to do the right thing and I know the CEOs of the big chain supermarkets are ready to go with overseeing to make sure that check-ins are happening.”

Grabbing a takeaway coffee will now require check-in. Picture: David Geraghty

A Woolworths spokesman said the company would work closely with the government on new directives after encouraging shoppers to use QR codes for months.

“With this shift to mandatory check-in, we ask our Victorian customers to please treat team members and each other with respect as we work through this together,” he said.

Up until now, only South Australia and Western Australia have forced shoppers to check-in.

Last week opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier questioned why the practice wasn’t enforced in Victoria.
At the time, Health Minister Martin Foley said it only applied if shoppers were indoors for more than 15 minutes but that he would encourage them to check-in “whenever and wherever they can”.

Earlier this week, testing commander Jeroen Weimar said enforcement programs were being ramped up and “the more data we get the better”.
But he also said the government was cognicent of any “additional burdens on businesses that are disproportionate to what is going on”.