Preston businesses are being encouraged to use a new Covid-19 tracing app to comply with the law for recording contact details.

The app – available from Thursday 24 September – was recently announced as part of the Government’s coronavirus testing and contact tracing programme.

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Venues in hospitality, the tourism and leisure industry, close contact services and local authority facilities must have a system in place by law to record contact details of their customers, visitors and staff.

Hospitality venues must also refuse entry to those who refuse to participate.

Failure to comply will result in businesses being issued with fixed penalty fines.

Read more: Preston’s new tougher coronavirus restrictions now in force as face mask fines to rise

Used alongside traditional contact tracing, the system allows businesses to create their own unique QR code, which people can use to check in at venues.

The app will notify users if they come into contact with anyone who later tests positive for the virus.

Read more: Community testing ‘may run out in days’ as Preston MP Mark Hendrick brands test and trace system ‘a disgrace’

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader at Preston City Council, said: “We’d like to thank Preston business owners for their efforts in remaining Covid safe for their staff and customers. None of us wants to be in this current position but we must do all we can to stop the spread of Coronavirus which, if ignored, will have a long term effect on our communities and local economy.

“We’re raising awareness of this new app and encouraging Preston businesses to comply with this new law and do all they can to help in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus.

“Please encourage staff and customers to download the app and use your unique QR code to check-in when they visit your venue.

“If we all work together, we can protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities.”

To comply with the new law, businesses must:

• ask at least one member of every party of customers or visitors to provide their name and contact details
• keep a record of all staff working on their premises and shift times on a given day and their contact details
• keep these records of customers, visitors and staff for 21 days and provide data to NHS Test and Trace if requested
• display an official NHS QR code poster from 24 September, so that customers and visitors can ‘check in’ using this option as an alternative to providing their contact details
• adhere to General Data Protection Regulations

The app doesn’t track individuals’ locations, but uses postcodes to help work out where the virus is spreading.

Read more: Preston City Council to make home visits to help trace coronavirus contacts

Preston City Council say experts from the Government, Apple, Google and the National Cyber Security Centre have checked that the app is safe and secure to use.

For more information on the app, visit Covid19.nhs.uk. To read about the new law, go to the Government’s press release Venues required by law to record contact details.

Read more: See the latest Preston news and headlines

What do you think of the new law? Are you a business owner who is affected? Let us know in the comments.

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