Make sure you check in
All Victorians are being urged to check in when they visit venues, to keep the community safe.
The government has urged all Victorians to remember to check in when they visit venues, to keep the community safe.
Using the Service Victoria app makes the process simple and Health Minister Martin Foley is urging everyone to download the app.
From the end of May, every business that has to keep electronic records will be required to use the Service Victoria QR service.
“This change means checking in will be quick and easy and ensure the data is high-quality and easily available to our contract tracers, should any venue be listed as an exposure site,” Minister Foley said.
While many Victorians are doing the right thing, public health officials remain concerned about low rates of check-ins.
A recent survey showed only 41 per cent of visitors to hospitality venues checked in every time, while 24 per cent of sites visited by Authorised Officers between April 30 and May 2 were warned or received notices due to lack of compliance with electronic record keeping.
The recent case of community transmission in NSW has highlighted the ongoing need for effective and efficient contact tracing.
Minister Foley said the public health advice is clear: in order to ease density quotients at venues, compliance with electronic record keeping among businesses and Victorians has to increase.
He said moving to a single QR code service through the Service Victoria app will increase compliance and allow restrictions to continue to ease in line with public health advice.
The government said from May 28 the current density quotients of one person per two square metres would be lifted for small-to-medium sized venues across the state – but people need to keep playing their part to help Victoria stay safe and stay open by checking in using the QR Code Service through the Service Victoria app.
Venues will be able to have 200 people per space (such as a dining room or band room) without any density limit, provided Covid marshals are on site ensuring all patrons are checking in to each space. These changes will apply for spaces that are 400 sqm or below, larger spaces still need to observe density limits.
The Minister said the changes meant Victoria’s live music venues, restaurants, bars and nightclubs, would be able to welcome more patrons in a CovidSafe way.
It’s also an important step for places of worship, with people able to register their details and gather in greater numbers within spaces smaller than 400 square metres.
Density quotients will also be removed for outdoor non-seated venues such as recreation facilities, community sport, pools, tourism services and non-seated outdoor entertainment (eg zoos). Existing CovidSafe requirements will still apply, supported by use of the Victorian Government QR Code Service.
CovidSafe support for Bass Coast
Bass Coast businesses will soon get specialist advice on staying safe and staying open through 2021, after Bass Coast Shire Council received $60,000 to employ Covid Business Support officers.
The funding is part of a state government program to help businesses stay safe and stay open.
The officers will help high-risk locations like markets and shopping strips comply with CovidSafe requirements, like checking in, physical distancing and cleaning.
They will work with local hospitality businesses, community venues and small retailers – like hairdressers, butchers and milk bars – to ensure they can stay CovidSafe, as well as delivering a wide range of information on CovidSafe practices to the community.
“The Covid support officers will be really important for making sure our Bass Coast community stays CovidSafe and open for business,” said Member for Bass Jordan Crugnale, announcing the funding.
Minister for Local Government Shaun Leane said the funding would enable councils to support businesses and communities and keep local economies open.
