Call for contact tracing system to be improved with mandatory use of QR codes in Victoria

The state government is under pressure to make its QR tracing app mandatory to strengthen its contact tracing system.

The state government is under pressure make its QR tracing app mandatory to streamline and strengthen its contact tracing system.

The government confirmed 33,833 businesses are currently registered to use the Victorian Government QR code service portal.

Instead many businesses are still using private tracing systems, with records able to be accessed by tracers if required.

Victoria released its Service Victoria contact tracing app in October after rejecting offers from the ACT government to use its app.

New South Wales and South Australia have made it mandatory for all businesses to use the government app for contact tracing, while Victoria still allows businesses to use paper systems or other tracing apps.

A cafe guest scans a QR code for COVID-19 contact tracing. (Photo by Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images)

Deakin University epidemiologist Prof Catherine Bennett said Victoria’s government app had not been made mandatory because the state was slow to roll it out.

But, she said it was clear there were issues with the state’s existing tracing system.

“There is no doubt, if we have to resort to additional methods, like credit card access or even working through paper based records, it will slow things down,” Prof Bennett said.

“Every hour helps contact tracers.

“We know they are getting interviews underway within a couple of hours of notification, so it’s important they here about potentially exposed people as soon as possible.”

But Prof Bennett said, to improve contact tracing across the board, experts must find “better ways” than QR codes for identifying casual contacts.

“There are a lot of tech approaches from apps to swipe cards that people are developing that might yet give us better working options that do not require people to activate them or remember to use them,” she said.

“It should be automatic.”

A state government spokeswoman would not say if the government was looking to make the use of its app mandatory.

“The Victorian Government QR code Service is free and available to all Victorian businesses and venues,” she said.

This technology is playing an important role keeping Victorians safe and we encourage every business to use it.”

Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive Ben Flynn said businesses would adapt to models that worked.

“Businesses are really supportive of doing something better,” he said.

Liberal health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier said the government should follow the NSW model to ensure Victorians are not subjected to more lockdowns.

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Originally published as Call for contact tracing system to be improved with mandatory use of QR codes in Victoria