Everything businesses need to know about the offical NHS QR code poster and app

From Thursday 24th September 2020, businesses are required to display the official NHS QR code poster to allow customers to check-in and log their details for the NHS Test and Trace service.

The NHS COVID-19 app is launching on Thursday 24th September and will be available to download for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

The app is a vital part of the NHS Test and Trace service and has a number of tools to protect individuals, including contact tracing, local area alerts and venue check-in.

Hospitality venues, close contact businesses and leisure venues are legally required to display an official NHS QR code poster to allow people to check-in at different premises using the new app. This means that if people visit the venue and later test positive for coronavirus, other app users who were there at the same time will be alerted.

Why must I display the official NHS QR code poster?

NHS QR code posters are a quick, simple and secure way for visitors to anonymously register that they've been to your venue. This allows your customers or visitors to receive important public health messages if needed.

NHS QR code posters are a key part of the ongoing COVID-19 response. They enable people to have a digital diary of the places they've visited, to help with contact tracing, and they help visitors to quickly receive public health advice if necessary.

By supporting the official NHS QR code poster system, you'll be protecting your visitors and your business.

Which venues must display the official NHS QR code poster?

If your business or venue falls into one of the sectors or categories that should provide a customer log, then you are also now required to display an NHS QR code poster at your venue.

This applies if you provide:

• hospitality services, including pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés
• tourism and leisure services, including hotels, museums, cinemas, zoos and theme parks
• close contact services, including hairdressers, barbershops and tailors
• facilities provided by Local Authorities, including town halls and civic centres for events, community centres, libraries and children’s centres
• places of worship, including use for events and other community activities

If you have a venue outside of these categories that is visited by members of the public and has a space where people congregate, then we also encourage you to create a QR code poster for the entrance to that venue.

By supporting the official NHS QR code poster system, you'll be protecting your visitors and your business. You will help to slow the spread of the virus, reduce the impact of any second wave, and help normal life to resume more quickly.

Further guidance for other businesses can be found here.

How do I create an official NHS QR code poster for my business?

You can create your official NHS QR poster here.

To create your poster, you'll need:

• the postcode and address of the venue where you're going to put your NHS QR code poster
• an email address so that the poster can be sent to you
• a contact phone number and an email address for each of your venue locations
• to select your venue or organisation type from a list - if it's not in the list or if you're unsure select Other

A unique code will be sent to your email address to validate it. You'll need to open your email account, find this code and enter it into the website when asked.

If I create an official NHS QR code poster for my venue, does this remove my responsibility to collect contact details by other routes?

If your business or venue falls into one of the sectors or categories that should provide a customer log, and a visitor chooses to check-in using the official NHS QR code, they will not need to provide their contact details by any other route.

However, you will still need to offer a manual option for recording visitors' contact details, for people who do not have a smartphone or do not want to use the NHS COVID-19 app.

If there's coronavirus is at my business, does the app mention the name of my business to users?

The app notification will not mention the name of your venue, it will just let app users know that they may have come into contact with coronavirus and provide them with public health advice.

I am currently using my own QR code check-in system at my venue. Can I continue to use this instead of the official NHS QR code posters, or integrate the two?

The NHS COVID-19 app is only able to scan official NHS QR code posters. This is for security reasons and because the NHS QR technology means that venue check-in history remains on the user’s device.

In England, if you're currently using your own QR code system to collect records of your staff, visitors or customers, you should now switch to the official NHS QR code system. By supporting the official system, you'll be protecting your visitors, customers and your business.

Find out more about the NHS COVID-19 app here.