Police to crack down on QR code check-ins across SA as people travelling from high-risk Victorian spots are banned from SA

People who “blatantly” refuse to check into SA’s COVID tracing system face fines under a police crackdown – as anyone travelling from high-risk locations in Victoria is banned from SA.

Plain-clothed police officers will be used at SA businesses to covertly watch if people are checking in, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says.

Citing a “level of complacency” around COVID-19 check-ins, Mr Stevens announced Operation Trace and warned of potential fines.

“SA Police has taken an educational approach to QR codes, however, we expect that by now members of the community would be well-versed on their requirements to check in,” he said.

Operation Trace will last from May 13 to May 21, and is aimed at ensuring people don’t become complacent about checking in.

Mr Stevens said while it was “pleasing” up to one million check-ins are recorded daily, the state needed to be aware COVID-19 was still in South Australia.

“As we start to see more large-scale community events and with an increase in interstate and New Zealand travel, we need to remember the risk that COVID-19 poses.

“We will be checking on people’s compliance on QR coding into supermarkets and businesses.”

The aim was not to fine “in the first instance, but pull people up who are walking past the QR codes,” Mr Stevens said.

SA Police expect to catch lots of people ignoring the check-ins during the blitz, Mr Stevens said.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. Picture: Tait Schmaal

“If you are simply walking past QR codes, you will be stopped by plain-clothed police,” he said. “I anticipate a large number of people being spoken to.”

Police will record names of people spoken to for failing to check in.

Mr Stevens said he found it “frustrating” people were not following instructions.

“I find it quite frustrating that a significant number of South Australians are doing the right thing, and there are others out there who either have not been listening to the messages that we’ve been pumping out … or simply choosing to ignore,” he said.

He warned “blatant” or continual refusal to check-in could result in fines, which was $1060 for individuals and $5060 for businesses.

“If we find people are disregarding the warnings, we can reassess our approach – people may find themselves facing an expiation notice as a result of their blatant disregard of the conditions that are placed to protect the community.

“I’m not withdrawing the ability for police officers to make an assessment based on the circumstances, where an expiation notice may be appropriate.

Mr Stevens said

“It’s a stark reminder to us that COVID-19 is in our community.”

“We are currently containing it within medi-hotels, but there was no guarantee that we won’t have an outbreak in the future.”

High-risk Victorian travellers banned

It comes as SA restricted entry to people visiting high-risk sites in Victoria from 12.23pm on Wednesday.

It includes essential travellers, people relocating and SA residents.

If you have been at one of the Tier 1 or 2 locations in Victoria at the specified times you are banned from entering SA.

Anyone in SA before 12.23pm on Wednesday who has visited any of those sites must quarantine and get tested on days one, five and 13 after arrival, quarantine for 14 days and wear a face mask for 14 days when in public after that.

It affects only people who have been at a Tier 1 or 2 location in Victoria at set times – see the list here.

Commissioner Stevens said he did not have “specific” numbers of people who may have arrived in SA from Victoria before today’s direction.

He said the new restrictions were only in place for people who had visited “high-risk locations”, which was a limited list of places.

Mr Stevens recommended travellers to Victoria and New South Wales ensure they have flexible travel arrangements, to make changes “if necessary”. 

“If you’re planning to travel to Victoria or New South Wales, it’s important to remember there are elements of risk associated with both jurisdiction and this time,” he said.

He said travellers are encouraged to be “mindful” that there “is a possibility that circumstances might change”. 

But Mr Stevens said there should be minimal impact on travel overall.

“We don’t imagine this is going to have a significant impact on people’s plans to travel from Victoria to South Australia or those who are returning.”

He said SA Police staff were stationed at the airport to greet arrivals to advise them of their obligations.

Mr Stevens said the volumes of people transiting between states and the relative level of “comfort” Australians were now enjoying meant it was “simply not possible to stop and verify every single person entering the state”. He said anyone caught lying to authorities about their movements faced penalties.

SA recorded one new COVID-19 case on Wednesday, a returned traveller in his 20s who is in a medi-hotel. It brings SA’s active total to 20.

Originally published as Police to crack down on QR code check-ins across SA as people travelling from high-risk Victorian spots are banned from SA