The Victoria State Government have eased a vast majority of its stage three COVID-19 restrictions as of 1 June 2020. The changes however, come with a new condition.
As of 1 June 2020, certain enterprises will be required to record the contact information of every individual who enters their venue. The Department of Health and Human Services advises that this change is to assist with contact tracing, should it be required.
What details are required to be recorded?
The required enterprises, business, and venues must document the following of every person to enter the premise. (This includes staff, patrons, delivery workers and maintenance.)
- First name
- Phone number
Enterprises must also keep a record of the date and time at which a person attended the facility. Enterprises are also required to document which space a patron spends the majority of their time while on the premises. (For example, a cinema or dining room)
Which enterprises need to keep records?
The following workplaces, business, facilities and venues must keep a record of the people who have attended.
- A physical recreation facility (including those exclusively used by a single professional sporting team)
- An outdoor personal training facility
- An arena or stadium being used exclusively for training by a single professional sporting team or providing a venue for a professional sporting event
- A community facility
- A library or other community facility
- A venue that is hosting a wedding or a funeral
- A place of worship that is hosting a wedding, funeral or ceremony
- A hairdresser, beauty service and a barber shop
- A swimming pool (including those used by a single professional sporting team)
- A residential property at which there is an auction or an inspection
- A restaurant or café
- An auction house
- A gallery, museum, national institution or historic site.
Other business and venues that are able to open after June 21, such as cinemas or indoor recreational facilities (like gyms), will also be required to keep these records.
How long do the records need to be kept?
Records must be kept for 28 days. This is to ensure that contact tracers are able to use the records to look back and determine who could have potentially been exposed if a previous patron is diagnosed with COVID-19.
Should the records be destroyed after a certain period?
Records should be destroyed after the mandatory 28 days. This however, does not apply to business, venues, or practices that have their own statutory period for client information retention. (For example; medical professionals or counsellors.)
If you have any questions regarding the above, or any other business matters, you can contact us here for a free consultation.
