The Country Bakehouse owner Tim Vivian is calling for individuals who chose not to check-in with QR codes to be held more accountable, rather than businesses copping a fine for non-complying customers. PHOTO: Stephanie Thompson
A LOXTON trader has called for more COVID check-in responsibility on customers and less on businesses.
Last week, SA Police launched Operation Trace in a bid to reduce check-in complacency, with fines of $1060 and $5060 for non-complying individuals and businesses respectively.
The Country Bakehouse owner Tim Vivian said he supports the check-in process, but said more onus should be placed on individuals.
“A butcher shop got fined $5000 because they didn’t ask a customer if they checked in,” he said.
“If a customer doesn’t check-in, it should be on them.
“As businesses, we have an obligation to provide everything we can and if you are not providing what you can, then sure, I think you should be fined.”
Mr Vivian said his East Terrace business has a paper sign-in sheet and three QR codes before customers reach the counter.
Mr Vivian said he grapples with the concept that he could still be fined if a customer chooses not to check-in.
“My understanding is, that as a business owner, I have done everything in my power possible to allow that person to check in,” he said.
“Businesses have enough to worry about and staff have enough to worry about without asking every single customer, ‘Have you checked in?’.
“For me to employ someone to stand at the door to make sure people have checked in… we can’t afford that.
“It’s not viable.”
In this week’s Sunday Mail, it was reported that at least three eastern Adelaide businesses had been fined due to QR code check-in breaches.
Police Commissioner and state co-ordinator Grant Stevens said failing to check-in may have an adverse impact on South Australia’s ability to respond to an outbreak.
“We are seeing a level of complacency regarding COVID-19 check-ins and now is not the time to stop using QR codes,” he said.
“As we start to see more large-scale community events, and with an increase in interstate and New Zealand travel, we need to remember the risk that COVID-19 poses to our community.”
Operation Trace will include the use of plain clothes police officers to ensure people are checking in and providing their contact details when they enter a business or attend a public activity.
