People without a smartphone will be able to use a new, free card to check-in at sites across Canberra instead of having to sign in with pen and paper or ask a business to do it for them.
The ACT Government has also announced an update to the Check In CBR app on its first birthday that will allow it to provide COVID-19 exposure location alerts.
The card will make it easier for some Canberrans to check in and plug a potential gap for contact tracers.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the Check In CBR card would provide another option for Canberrans who did not own a smartphone or could not download the Check In CBR app.
“While venues have been able to check customers in through the business profile, we know that isn’t an ideal solution. Each Check In CBR card will have its own unique QR code, and customers will present it to be scanned using the Check In CBR business profile,” she said.
“Check-in information collected this way will be stored directly with ACT Health in the same way as data collected through the app, making it even easier for people, businesses and contact tracers to play their part in our fight against the spread of COVID-19.”
The consumer’s name and phone number will also be recorded on the Check In CBR card, so if a business isn’t able to scan the QR code, they can enter the person’s details easily from the card.
The app is also being updated to include a new exposure location alert, meaning users whose check-in matches an exposure location during the relevant date and timeframe will be directly notified through the app.
Users will be notified by SMS or push notifications, a message on the app’s home screen, and coloured identifiers displayed in the check-in history.
The check-in history will identify whether sites are close or casual contacts so people can take appropriate action to quarantine and get a COVID-19 test or monitor for symptoms if they need to.
“The new exposure location alert feature responds to feedback from the community. Adding these alerts will make it easier for Canberrans to act quickly if they have potentially been exposed to COVID-19 and help limit the spread of the virus in the community,” said Ms Stephen-Smith said.
She said a range of new features have been added in the 12 months since the app was launched, but the app needed to be updated regularly for these features to be available.
It was still important to check the COVID-19 website for all exposure locations in the ACT.
The Check In CBR app has recorded 47 million check-ins at nearly 20,000 registered ACT businesses and venues, had more than 950,000 downloads and is also being used in Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
To apply for a free Check In CBR card, or for more information, visit covid19.act.gov.au/check-in-cbr or call the ACT Health Digital Solutions Support team on 5124 5000.
While the Check In CBR card can be used at a wide range of businesses and venues, it can’t be used at locations where there is no Check In CBR business profile.
When using public transport, if people don’t have a smartphone, it is highly recommended that they use a registered MyWay card.
Original Article published by Ian Bushnell on The RiotACT.