There is a confirmed case of COVID19 in Lane Cove. The case was acquired due to being a known contact of a positive case.
The NSW contact tracers are doing a great job at finding contacts of confirmed COVID19 cases. However, any steps that can be taken to make their job easier is a good step.
Lane Cove Council has implemented an easy to use visitor registration app.
The Lane Cove Council has provided to all Lane Cove food establishments a contact free way of recording patron’s details. So it’s now easier for locals to register their visit to local cafes and restaurants.
Lane Cove Council has joined forces with Shiftlineup, a Lane Cove West-based company, to produce an electronic COVID-19 Customer and Visitor Registration System.
Urhere
Over 40 local food businesses are already on board to use urhere which Council has made available to local businesses free of charge.
Unlike many other registration systems, this one verifies the phone number on first-time use by sending a confirmation code, similar to a banking transaction. There’s also the option to remember visitor details on your device which means next time you visit a venue using this same system; you don’t need to re-enter your name and number, it will automatically log this for you when you scan the QR code. Users can also rest assured that information is stored within Australia for 28 days as per the current government requirements and unlike some other apps, is not available for third party use.
Are Supermarkets Using this Free App?
An ITC follower contacted In the Cove and asked why local supermarkets have not implemented this easy to use system. We contacted the three supermarkets and their responses are below.
Woolworths
Woolworths has implemented its own contract tracing App. Woolworths advised ITC the following:
“We have rolled out our QR Code Contact Tracing initiative to all our NSW stores, including Lane Cove. Please see here for our initial announcement on the initiative and here for information designed to assist customers with using the technology. Furthermore, we are only encouraging our NSW customers to wear face coverings when visiting our stores. It is not mandatory. If customers choose not to wear a face covering, we ask them to adhere to our other in-store social distancing measures.
We have been offering face masks to team members across our store network since April.”
Coles
Coles is a Lane Cove Council tenant. Their spokesperson told us the following:
“As we continue to prioritise the health and safety of our customers and team members, Coles is in regular contact with government health authorities to ensure we are taking all recommended steps to reduce the risk of COVID transmission.
The NSW Chief Health Officer has now recommended the use of face masks for NSW residents in indoor settings where physical distancing is hard to maintain, including while shopping in supermarkets.
In line with this advice, Coles is providing masks for our NSW team members and we encourage customers to wear a mask while in our NSW stores.
The Chief Health Officer has confirmed that staying home and getting tested if you are unwell, physical distancing, and regular hand-washing are still the best defence against COVID.
We also ask that customers continue to shop safely by:
- Using the sanitising station at the store entrance
- Maintaining physical distancing while in the store.
- Shopping alone if possible
- Planning your visit with the Coles App so you can complete your shopping quickly
- Paying by card and using tap-and-go
- Not visiting stores if you are feeling unwell, even if you are wearing a mask
Customers can also shop online with contactless Click&Collect, or contactless home delivery which delivers to your front door.
Our team members have safely served more than 350 million customers since the pandemic began, and we thank customers for treating them with respect as they work hard to provide a safer shopping experience.
Coles will continue to work with State and Federal Government health experts to implement any further safety measures they recommend.”
One good thing Coles has implemented is their click and collect system. You can stay in your car and park in the designated parking spot at The Canopy.
ALDI
ALDI is also a Lane Cove Council tenant. Their spokesperson told ITC the following:
“ALDI won’t be signing up and that ALDI receives all its info from NSW Health.”
Use the Lane Cove Urhere App
The App is simple to use.
This system will only work if adopted by Lane Cove residents before you sit down at a restaurant scan the QR code and encourage everyone in your group to scan the QR Code.
Restaurants only have limited seating capacity and must have a COVID-19 Safety Plan which requires physical distancing by employing the 4 square metre rule and ensuring there are at least 1.5 metres between tables. If you are ordering takeaway, make your order and then wait outside. If you are waiting for a table to become available, wait outside until the table has been cleared and cleaned.
Hygiene and cleaning is incredibly important, and businesses must make sure all surfaces are cleaned and sanitised regularly.
Restaurants and cafes are pro-actively inspected by Council officers, NSW Health and NSW Police and non-compliance will result in an on-the-spot fine. For more details on COVID Safe Businesses, visit the NSW Health website.
This is an excellent initiative by Lane Cove Council. What a shame that Coles and ALDI are not implementing their own systems or implementing a system that is easy to use and costs them nothing.
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