NSW is aggressively pursuing the expansion of its digital contact tracing tool, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian warning that Victoria's slow take-up of QR code technology would delay the opening of the border.
The NSW government's Service NSW app – which works with the government-developed QR code – is being used by more than half a million people, but the government is determined to reach 3 million people, or two-thirds of all adults in the state, by the time JobKeeper expires at the end of March.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said NSW would not open its borders to Victoria for at least two weeks. Credit:Sam Mooy
Despite companies including Bunnings, Officeworks and hospitality giant Merivale using the government's QR code, as well as many private versions, NSW has not ruled out mandating its use.
As Victoria scrambles to develop its own QR check-in code to help health authorities contact trace COVID-19 cases, Ms Berejiklian said she would not ease border restrictions for at least two weeks.
Ms Berejiklian said she was not willing to gamble NSW and the nation’s economy by opening the border with Victoria before the Andrews government proves it can operate without a lockdown.
"I don’t want to see the border up a day longer than it needs to be, but we also need to be sensible, we need to see Victoria demonstrate they have the capacity to get on top of any outbreaks, because there will be," Ms Berejiklian said.
NSW recorded four new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Thursday, including two students from Malek Fahd Islamic School in western Sydney, and two household contacts.
NSW Health said late on Thursday night that one of those positive cases had attended the F45 gym on Camden Valley Way in Leppington on 13 occasions, from October 15 to October 28.
Anyone who attended a class that was scheduled to begin five minutes before or five minutes after one of the classes listed below, or a class immediately before or after the sessions, was considered a casual contact:
- Thursday October 15, 5.15pm – 6pm
- Saturday October 17, 8.10am – 9.10am
- Sunday October 18, 8.55am – 9.40am
- Monday October 19, 5.50am – 6.35am
- Tuesday October 20, 5.50am – 6.35am
- Wednesday October 21, 5.15pm – 6pm
- Thursday October 22, 6.45am – 7.30am
- Friday October 23, 9.35am – 10.20am
- Saturday October 24, 7.10am – 8.10am
- Sunday October 25, 8.55am – 9.40am
- Monday October 26, 5.50am – 6.35am
- Tuesday October 27, 6.45am – 7.30am
- Wednesday October 28, 5.50am – 6.35am
Real test in coming weeks
Ms Berejiklian said it could be an economic disaster for NSW and the country to reopen borders too early.
"I won’t expose NSW and, to be frank, Australia, because if NSW goes down so does Australia and I don’t want to be in that position," she said.
"I don’t think anyone wants to see NSW jeopardised, because the impact to Australia would be absolutely devastating."
Asked whether she was surprised that Victoria had not yet developed the QR code system, Ms Berejiklian said she hoped states would have "built up their resilience" during periods of lockdown.
Despite Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews describing his state’s test results as "gold" on Thursday, Ms Berejiklian said the real test for Melbourne would arrive in coming weeks.
"The evidence will tell us, the data will tell us, the data is honest and truthful and transparent," she said.
"So we will know within two weeks after those restrictions have been eased what the impact on Victorians [has been] and to what extent they prepared during the lockdown period," she said.
NSW Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said the government would consider mandating the use of QR codes and he was urging all businesses to take up the Service NSW QR code.
"All cards are on the table. QR codes are a critical part of NSW’s resilience," Mr Dominello said.
"Businesses have had over three months to embrace this technology and those still using pen and paper should hurry up and download a QR code."
Victoria recorded three new coronavirus cases on Thursday, one less than NSW, though two of the positive cases may be instances of people shedding the virus after previous infections.
"We’ll be sensible about the Victorian situation ... if the health advice says to us ‘look they’ve been open for two weeks, restrictions have been eased, they’ve got the virus under control, they’ve improved their systems’ well then it's happy days," Ms Berejiklian said.
Alexandra Smith is the State Political Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald.
Tom Rabe is Transport Reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.
Most Viewed in National
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNtaC5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvbnN3L25zdy13YW50cy1tb3JlLXFyLWNvZGUtdXNlLWFzLXZpY3RvcmlhLXN0cnVnZ2xlcy10by1jYXRjaC11cC0yMDIwMTAyOS1wNTY5dTguaHRtbNIBdWh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLnNtaC5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvbnN3L25zdy13YW50cy1tb3JlLXFyLWNvZGUtdXNlLWFzLXZpY3RvcmlhLXN0cnVnZ2xlcy10by1jYXRjaC11cC0yMDIwMTAyOS1wNTY5dTguaHRtbA?oc=5
2020-10-29 17:39:00Z
CAIiEJaaxFswcXpQSWBSbcouvWUqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowxqmICzDg_IYDMIGkmwY
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "'Better than a pen and paper': NSW wants 3 million to download QR app by March - Sydney Morning Herald"
Post a Comment