Businesses and venues in Nottinghamshire are being urged to ensure they remain Covid-compliant – and meet legal requirements – by creating a QR poster ahead of the launch of the NHS Covid-19 ‘Test and Trace’ app next week.

The NHS Covid-19 app is due to launch on Thursday, 24th September, and will enable all users to ‘check in’ when they visit a venue by scanning a QR code displayed on posters at the entrance. The app then informs visitors if they come in to contact with someone who later tests positive for coronavirus.

Latest guidance issued by the government has made it a legal requirement for all venues from the following sectors to display NHS QR posters in their venues by 24th September:
•hospitality
•leisure and tourism
•close contact services
•places of worship
•local authority venues.

Jonathan Gribbin, director of public health for Nottinghamshire, said: “Businesses have a clear duty to support this service and I urge all venues, including pubs, restaurants, hairdressers, cinemas and places of worship, to create a QR code and display the posters to ensure the public are able to make full use of the new app.

“With coronavirus cases rising in the UK in the last few weeks it is essential businesses meet the legal requirements and capitalise on the benefits which the NHS Covid-19 app can bring to protect themselves and their customers.”

Following the launch of the new Covid-19 app, customers and visitors in England will be able to check-in on entry with their phone instead of filling out a check-in book or tool specific to a business.

When someone enters a venue and scans an official QR poster, the venue information is logged on the user’s phone. This information then stays on a user’s phone for 21 days and will allow NHS Test and Trace to contact customers with public health advice should there be a Covid-19 outbreak identified at the venue. It will help also businesses meet the new legal requirement to record the contact details of customers, visitors and staff on their premises.

Businesses who are already using their own QR system are being asked to switch to the NHS QR code, while maintaining an alternative check-in method to collect the contact details of those who don’t have the app.

Further details and instructions on how to create a poster are available on the government information website at www.gov.uk/create-coronavirus-qr-poster

The council said it remains crucial that if you have Covid symptoms, get a test and self-isolate. Symptoms include a fever, a new continuous cough, or loss of your sense of taste or smell.

Call 119 to book your free test or visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/