Sheffield pubs urged to play their part in NHS Test and Trace system

Sheffield Council’s most senior public health officer has urged all pubs and pub-goers in the city to take part in the NHS Test and Trace system - saying that without the vital data the outbreak tracking tool provides him, the prospect of a local lockdown in the city cannot be ruled out.
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Since pubs and restaurants reopened on July 4, customers have been asked to provide contact details whenever they visit, but concerns have been raised that some pubs are failing to collect data from every customer.

But Greg Fell, Sheffield Council’s director of public health, says that the system remains one of the best ways of fighting the coronavirus pandemic, and urged all pubs and their customers to play their part in controlling the killer disease’s spread.

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He said: “The government has made it clear that the provision of customer contact details is voluntary but operators should encourage customers to share their details to support the NHS Test and Trace scheme.

Pubs reopening in Sheffield on July 4th. The Riverside pub.Pubs reopening in Sheffield on July 4th. The Riverside pub.
Pubs reopening in Sheffield on July 4th. The Riverside pub.

“The collecting of customer data should be provided at the time a person or group visits a pub or restaurant and should be undertaken by the venue and collected electronically or can be written down on paper by the customer on entering the premises.

“Ultimately, however, this is the responsibility of the individual attending a pub or restaurant.

“The test and trace system relies on the data provided by individuals attending that is in turn given to us by venues. If we do not have the data to inform us of this, we do not have the contact information of people who may have contracted the virus and the time this buys us to do something about a potential rise in positive cases. We can and will have no other alternative but to go to a position of a local lockdown. It’s as simple as that.

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“By informing us, you are helping to protect all of us. Playing your part in this simple act will prevent the spread of the virus.

Greg Fell, Sheffield's director of public health.Greg Fell, Sheffield's director of public health.
Greg Fell, Sheffield's director of public health.

“However, we are confident that the general public will be safe as long as we all remain cautious and continue to observe the guidelines. This is essential if we are to prevent outbreaks in the city.

“It’s great news for the local economy that pubs, bars and restaurants have been able to welcome the return of customers, but we must also ask those visiting these places to stick to the guidance in place to keep everyone safe.”

The statement comes after concerns were raised about the way different pubs in the city were interpreting the NHS Test and Trace system and the coronavirus safety guidelines more generally.

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One pub-goer who didn’t want to be named said Wetherspoon pubs in the city were not encouraging people to use the system, leaving it entirely up to their customers to decide whether or not they wanted to take part.

Other pubs in the city, however, such as the Sheffield Tap on Sheaf Street, collect the names and telephone numbers of all customers on entry.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon refuted the claim that the chain’s pubs were not taking covid-compliance as seriously as they should be, saying customers were reminded to fill in a form or scan a QR code whenever they bought food or drink.

They added that door staff and managers also have the QR code on their lanyards so that customers can confirm their test and trace while waiting to enter the pub.

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He said: “When we reopened our pubs on July 4, we introduced a paper-based system, asking customers to give their contact details which were put in a ‘ballot-box’ at each pub and are kept for 21 days.

“Alongside this paper-based system, Wetherspoon has implemented a “QR” (Quick Response) system which allows information to be recorded and stored digitally.

“As a further upgrade, by August 4, there will be a notice on every table in every Wetherspoon pub which enables customers to scan a code for the pub they are in, which records their location, contact details, date, time and number of people for the visit.

“The combination of the paper and digital QR systems will work well, Wetherspoon believes, since it’s in everyone’s interests - and given the high level of cooperation we have received from the public in this area.

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“No system is risk-free, and it is not possible to verify the information that the customer provides. However, we are confident that the system will work well.”

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