‘Digital Dubbo’ becomes test case city for QR code contact tracing

If you are one of those people who choose to venture out and dine in at restaurants and cafes during the pandemic, you will be well aware that you need to provide your details for contact tracing purposes.

However, each establishment conducts their contact tracing differently: some  venues will have you write your name in a book, others use specific smart phone apps which require a QR code.

As to QR Codes, the unlikely town of Dubbo has been selected by the New South Wales Government to trial a new one-size-fits-all approach using the Service NSW app which has been updated to include a QR code scanner.

The scanner has been added in the hopes it will make the contact tracing process more efficient and streamlined.

This new app can be used to 'check-in' at hospitality venues and government offices. 

Lee Schwager from Service NSW Dubbo explains, "Once you set it up the first time your name and phone number will auto-populate with businesses that have our COVIDSafe app.

"It's convenient, it's more secure and gives people more confidence on where their information is going to."

The app is expected to be rolled out statewide if it proves to be successful.

But why Dubbo? 

According to local MP Dugald Saunders, "Dubbo has been chosen because it really is a digital location, the digital driver's licence was really successful.”

Dubbo was the debut city for the digital driver’s licence.

"This will be, I think, the new protocol for government departments from here on in,” Saunders said. 

"It automatically captures the date the time and is all stored on the department's database, then it stays there for 28 days and then it's deleted." 

The local Dubbo cafés and restaurants are embracing the app. With constantly changing restrictions, many café owners have had to adapt.

Errin Williamson, who runs a local café in Dubbo said they greet customers at the door and this process of collection information is a lot easier. 

"It's been a process of educating guests on how to use it, but 90 per cent of our customers are onto it now," she said.

However, like numerous restaurant and café staff and customers, she believes that any thing that can be done to make this process easier will be welcomed by all.

"I think it's here to stay. As cafe owners, we have a responsibility to look after the community. So as long as we are on top of it, we can keep everyone safe," she said.

The  State Government says there will be protocols in place to ensure details of every customer can be captured even if they don’t possess a smart phone.