Coronavirus update: Businesses, QR codes, tests, cases & infringements

Businesses that remain open are encouraged to ensure they have COVID safe measures in place as the state records 22 new cases of COVID-19 today.

While Premier Gladys Berejiklian said health authorities fears of a spike in transmissions have yet to materialise, the state will continue to err on the side of caution.

“To date, our fears about huge escalation haven’t materialised and we certainly want to keep it that way,” the NSW Premier said.

All 22 of the new cases reported today are linked. Of these, half were in isolation for their entire infectious period, and five were isolated for at least part of that period. This leaves six cases that were out in the community whilst infectious.

QR codes in businesses essential to speedy contact tracing

The Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was essential that businesses and customers maintain social distancing and use QR codes as a number of local restaurants and venues joined the list of exposure sites overnight.

Dr Chant said of particular concern was the Doncaster Hotel in Kensington where additional cases in the venue and amongst staff have caused health authorities to identify any visitors to the venue on June 23 from 5:45 pm to 8 pm as a close contact that must immediately isolate and get tested and remain in isolation for the next 14 days.

Student nurse amongst latest transmissions

A further case for concern is a student nurse who received a positive diagnosis last night and was reported amongst today’s cases. The wards that staff member worked in have been locked down and any patients who were discharged have been contacted. There were two hospitals involved: Fairfield and North Shore.

“We know that the student nurse worked whilst infectious on a number of days, and obviously immediately our health team swung into action. Can I thank those staff who were working in the wee hours of the morning, to ensure that patients were tested and staff were tested,” Chant said.

To date no positive results have been returned from any of the student nurses contacts.

Police upping the ante on infringements

Police handed out 59 infringement notices, yesterday. Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboy said disappointingly many of them were given to passengers flouting the law on public transport.

“Forty-three of those have been on the public transport system which we know is a vulnerable place where people gather together, and police will prioritise this over the next few days.

“Police are also focusing on country nsw. We want people not to move into country NSW for a holiday and try to disguise that.

“In normal times country people would welcome people to their areas but this is not normal times,” he said.

QR codes to become mandatory for businesses and workplaces

Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the Service NSW app has been an important response to the outbreak and would continue to be a vital tool with over 330 million check-ins to date

However, Dominellos said as the Delta strain moves at a lightning pace it was now essential to expand the use of QR codes to all businesses and workplaces across the state.

“A host of other businesses will now need to have a QR code system in place by July 12,” the minister said, describing the system as “a compact between businesses and customers”.

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