Low levels of QR code scanning in Dunedin

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-03-26 00:01

New Zealand

Siobhan Leachman, Wikimedia Commons

No COVID-19 cases have been detected in Dunedin for 10 months, but people should keep track of their movements so contact tracers can work quickly if needed. Researchers from the University of Otago took a snapshot of QR code use by randomly selecting 10 cafes, 10 restaurants, 10 bars, five churches, and five supermarkets, and visiting them at their busiest times. They evaluated the display of QR codes according to Ministry of Health guidelines, and found that all supermarkets met the criteria, but only half of the hospitality venues. Scanning proportions were low at all venues, including 12 where no visitors scanned over an hour period. The authors say that there are some simple fixes for venues to improve QR code display, and visitors can also play a role by providing feedback when scanning is difficult.

Media release

From: New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA)

Key Points

The speed with which contacts of newly diagnosed community cases of COVID-19 are identified, tested and quarantined/isolated is a critical determinant of how effective contact tracing is in preventing onward transmission of the virus and the need for lockdowns.
The NZ COVID Tracer smartphone app and NZ COVID Tracer QR code posters were introduced to facilitate rapid contact tracing in the community, but this digital initiative can only achieve its intended aim if businesses and other venues display QR code posters appropriately and if visitors to those venues scan the posters.
We undertook an audit in Dunedin (i) to assess how well the NZ COVID Tracer QR code poster was displayed at randomly selected cafes, restaurants, bars, churches and supermarkets and (ii) to calculate the proportions of visitors to those 40 venues who scanned the QR code poster.
We evaluated the display of QR code posters using a six-item assessment tool that was based on guidance provided to businesses and services by the Ministry of Health; all six criteria were met at half of the hospitality venues, most of the churches and all of the supermarkets.
Scanning proportions were low at all venues (median 10.2%) and at a third of the venues none of the visitors scanned (two thirds of these venues were bars, a high-risk setting for virus transmission).

Summary

It is essential that the contacts of any newly diagnosed community cases of COVID-19 are rapidly identified, tested and quarantined/isolated, in order to prevent onward transmission of the virus and to minimise the need for lockdowns. The NZ COVID Tracer smartphone app and NZ COVID Tracer QR code posters were introduced to assist with rapid contact tracing in the community, but they are only useful if businesses and other venues display QR code posters appropriately and if visitors to those venues scan the posters. We assessed how well the NZ COVID Tracer QR code poster was displayed at randomly selected Dunedin cafes, restaurants, bars, churches and supermarkets and calculated the proportions of visitors to those venues who scanned the QR code poster. Some venues were displaying the QR code poster appropriately, but there was room for improvement at others. Disturbingly low proportions of visitors to the venues scanned the posters.

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Medical Journal

Organisation/s: University of Otago

Funder: N/A

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