MANDATORY CONTACT REGISTERS FROM MID-NOVEMBER 2020
For the past few months life feels like it has returned to something like pre-COVID normality. With the relaxing of WA’s hard borders from Saturday, 14 November comes an increase in the risk of community transmission. The Tourism Minister, Hon Paul Papalia, called a meeting yesterday of the heads of the state’s heritage, cultural, sports and tourism sectors to outline the approach that will be taken to keep everyone as safe as possible.
From late November, the Government will reintroduce mandatory collection of contact details of all patrons across the state. This will include all venues identified in Stage 3 measures including museums, galleries, heritage sites and cultural centres. Along with your COVID Safe Plan you must also have in place a way of gathering information about everyone who enters your premises. This will not apply to accommodation (because they have alternative information collection systems) and retail (as the view is that people will spend less than 15 minutes in a retail space).
The Government is still finalising exactly what information will be required and this will be communicated to you in the very near future. To assist in this process the Government is developing a smart phone application and will also provide QR codes to businesses free of charge.
The onus is on the business to collect this information and the Minister assured the group that the system was mandatory and would be monitored. Having done so well with the management of this deadly virus up until now the Government is not willing to leave anything to chance where the public’s health is at risk.
There are a number of ways that you can comply with this directive:
- Existing Booking or Reservation System
If you already have an existing booking, ticketing or reservation system this will count as a contact tracing system as long as it collects the required information. Final requirements will be communicated as soon as we receive them. - WA State QR Code System
The WA Government will provide a free QR code system where businesses can generate and use a QR code for their location. Customers will need to download the WA Contact app and set up their information and from then on, they can simply scan the QR code at each venue. It is expected that this will be available from Mid-November. It is recommended that you use this system if possible. - Other System
If you do not have your own booking system and for any reason the QR Code system does not work for your site then a paper based or other electronic system can be used as long as you are complying with the requirements.
We will continue to liaise with the Government on your behalf. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me [email protected] and I will pass them on.
For more information about COVID Safety Guidelines and Plans click here.
Stay Safe,
Claire
Claire Savage
Acting Executive Director
AMaGA Western Australia
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