Bucks Council urging locals support Test and Trace App
The app is being released today and locals, including businesses, are being urged to follow regulations around using it.
Buckinghamshire Council are hoping locals adopt the new Test and Trace system.
The Test and Trace App**** is launching today, and Buckinghamshire Council are urging locals to use it.
Businesses, including leisure centres, cafes and restaurants, are expected to have posters/print outs of the QR code for people to scan.
Councillor Gareth Williams is Cabinet Member for Communities and Public Health, Buckinghamshire Council:
"Whilst we know that Buckinghamshire is relatively low in terms of numbers per 100,000 people, in other areas it has taken only a matter of weeks for that to go up massively.
"We do need to try and stay on top of this and each of us play our part in helping the Test and Trace system work.
"The idea of this is new app is to stop to silent spread of COVID and with the delays in testing this is a way we can all work together to prevent the spread.
"We are conscious a lot of businesses and people have had a tough time but we are hoping that printing out the QR code is not too much to ask so that local residents can be protected from the spread of this virus."
Residents are being asked to download the app ahead of any visit, so they can get used to the process and be ready when asked to scan a code.
Collecting details and maintaining records for NHS Test and Trace is now a legal requirement for the businesses, and failure to comply could result in a fine.
For those who do not have a smart phone, businesses have been told to keep a paper record of details so they can be contacted should they need to be.
The first fixed penalty is £1,000, the second is £2,000, the third is £3,000, and any further penalty notice thereafter is £4,000.
Covid Marshalls were announced as a way to enforce this as well as regulations like the rule of 6 are being enforced.
However, Cllr Gareth Williams is hoping that local people follow current guidance so marshall's wont be needed:
"We are looking into Covid Marshall's and considering the need. First and foremost it is up to all of us as individuals to take responsibility and follow current guidelines.
"We would rather be spending the money we have got alleviating the problems of those who have real issues with regards to Covid rather than spending it on Marshall's to enforce something that hopefully everyone's sense of duty will mean they pull together.
"In Buckinghamshire we have been amazing as a population, for example the number of people who stepped forward to volunteer and help their neighbours.
"I am sure we can carry on in that spirit."