New rules for hospitality venues and hairdressers from 1 January 2021

As of 1 January 2021, hospitality venues and hairdressers will be required to use the NSW Government QR code system for digital check in. Learn more about COVID Safe Check-in with the Service NSW app.

Embedded content: https://twitter.com/ServiceNSW/status/1341880037360824320

Digital check-in makes contact tracing easier

Contact tracing is one of the most powerful tools to stop the spread of Covid-19 in our community.

Digital check-ins make it easier for the NSW Government to contact customers of an affected business quickly if it becomes necessary.

They help businesses to remain Covid safe by meeting requirements for the collection and storage of customer contact details.

Under NSW Government rules, businesses across a range of industries must record contact details of customers and staff using QR codes or other electronic forms. Strict penalties apply for businesses who do not follow these rules. As of January 1, some businesses must use the NSW Government QR code system.

A range of businesses and events must use contactless digital check-in

The rules apply to a range of businesses and events. See the full NSW Government list.

Businesses and locations include:

• nail salons, beauty salons, hairdressing salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, spas, tattoo parlours and massage parlours
• hospitality venues, including casinos, food and drink premises, micro-breweries, small distilleries, pubs, small bars and registered clubs
• entertainment facilities and function centres
• public swimming pools, recreation facilities (indoor), recreation facilities (major)

Digital check-in is also required at events, including:

• corporate events
• funerals and memorial services and gathering after funerals and memorial services
• wedding services and gatherings after wedding services.

For customers entering venues without a mobile phone, venues are asked to record their details and time of entry on another digital device like an iPad.

Using the Service NSW app and Covid Safe QR code

Some businesses already use QR code services from other digital providers. However, to keep the community safe, they are strongly encouraged to use their free QR code and the Covid Safe Check In tool via the Service NSW app. As of 1 January, this is mandatory for hospitality businesses and hairdressers.

To help you with contactless customer record keeping, the NSW Government has created a unique, free QR code for each business that customers can scan when they visit.

To access it, businesses or organisations register as Covid Safe at nsw.gov.au.

They can then download their unique Covid Safe Check-in QR Code at their venue for customers to use.

Businesses who have already registered as Covid safe will be emailed their unique QR code. If you haven't received it, you can request it to be resent.

It’s easy and secure for customers

Collecting customer information via QR codes to the Service NSW app is fast, accurate and secure.

Using the app also means customers don't need to repeatedly provide personal information at each check-in. It will populate the necessary information for them.

Customers will need to have the Service NSW app installed on their mobile to record their visit.

It makes the check in seamless by sending accurate customer information directly to Service NSW.

This means the data does not have to be stored by the business and it is readily available for the NSW Government to access if it becomes necessary.

After check-in, customer contact details are stored securely by the NSW Government and destroyed after 28 days

This Covid Safe check-in tool is free and available to all NSW businesses and organisations as part of the Covid Safe registration pack.

This information is accurate as of 30 December 2020. Information may change. For up to date information visit The NSW Government website.