Calls for Covid scanner use to prevent more lockdowns

Small businesses fearing they wouldn't survive another lockdown are calling for greater pressure on customers to make use of the Covid-19 tracer app now, rather than waiting for another community outbreak. The virulent new strains have already caused further lockdowns in many countries, and rapid tracing would be vital to the prevention of a new outbreak here. However, use of the tracer app among Kiwis has dropped off alarmingly, with many saying they will start using it again only if there is a new outbreak - by which time it will be too late.

In a Stuff article, First Retail Group managing director Chris Wilkinson said that the risk of not signing in to businesses is the “cataclysmic” shutting down of everything again.

“We’ve already seen what a second lockdown did to Auckland ... it was heart-wrenching to see the impact that had on businesses, the confidence of staff, and consumers.”

Wilkinson said scanning “peer pressure” should be encouraged, and political leaders needed to be actively scanning by example, and assigning scan “champions” to sectors.