Esther Lauaki
A new voluntary contact tracing solution using smartphones is being trialled at Wyndham supermarkets to better assist health authorities with tracking coronavirus.
The QR Code Contact Tracing initiative is being trialled across Woolworths stores in Tarneit Gardens, Williams Landing, Hogans Corner, Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook Town Centre and Featherbrook.
Customers in trial stores can use a QR code at the entrance to check in and register their contact details.
All details will be encrypted, securely stored and only be used to let customers know about a confirmed case in the store or to notify relevant health authorities and their nominated agencies for the purpose of contact tracing.
State Woolworths supermarkets general manager Andrew Hall said the safety and wellbeing of all customers, teams and communities was the top priority.
“Contact tracing is an essential step in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and we want to do our bit to support the broader public health effort,” Mr Hall said.
“While checking in and sharing contact details will be voluntary for our customers, we encourage shoppers to make use of it in our trial stores. Doing so will enable health authorities to make rapid contact with potentially impacted customers in the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in our stores.”
Another digital safety tool Woolworths has recently introduced is the Q-Tracker- a web tool that uses real-time data to show customers whether stores have had to implement a queue at entry to support social distancing and any wait time associated with it.
By helping customers plan when and where they shop before they leave home, Q-Tracker makes it easier for shoppers to avoid busy periods, save time and shop with health and safety in mind.
As part of the Q-Tracker initiative, Woolworths expanded its ‘book my shop’ feature to more than 40 stores following successful trials in its Taylors Lakes, Hampton Park, South Melbourne and St Helena stores.
Mr Hall said that once a booking had been confirmed customers could head straight into the store without needing to stand in a queue.
“More than 35,000 of our customers have already made use of Q-Tracker to plan their shop and hundreds have booked in shopping times at our trial stores,” he said.
“Based on the positive feedback from customers, we’ve expanded the booking function to a further 40 Melbourne stores.
“We’ll continue to look for new and innovative ways to build on our existing COVIDSafe protocols and procedures to ensure they’re as robust as they can be.
“We’d like to thank our customers and team for their ongoing support as we all work together to keep our communities COVIDSafe.”
