Collection of contact information and contract tracing – a legal requirement
The purpose of the Welsh Government’s Test, Trace, Protect strategy is controlling the spread of new outbreaks but for it to be effective, information about where those who have tested positive may have been in contact with others is essential.
So as people increasingly visit the same places as others, businesses operating in sectors where there is a higher risk of spreading the coronavirus have a key role to play in supporting contact tracing and keeping Wales safe.
All businesses that are open to the public will have in place a strict system to comply with social distancing in all locations at all times, and will be following staying safe at work guidance. Workplaces and premises open to the public are required under Welsh law to take all reasonable measures to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus. The starting point is preventing physical interaction within a 2 metre distance, and (especially) where this is not reasonably practicable, other measures to minimise close face to face interaction are required, such as use of protective screens, rearranging furniture and other fittings, controlling the flow of people or wearing personal protective equipment. This will minimise the need for the Test, Trace, Protect service initiating the contact tracing process if a member of staff, customer or visitor to your premises tests positive for coronavirus.
Where any person tests positive, however, the Test, Trace, Protect service needs information about where that person has been, and who that person has been in contact with. Where that person has been on premises open to the public, in particular, the identity of those people may not be known to the person who has tested positive. For that reason, certain businesses, such as the Brangwyn Hall are expected to collect and retain information about who has been on the premises, and when, for 21 days.
What information needs to be collected?
Information sufficient to enable a person to be contacted to inform them they may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
Customers and visitors
- The names of customers or visitors, or if it is a group of people forming a household or extended household, the name of one member of the household – the ‘lead member’.
- A contact telephone number for each customer or visitor, or for the lead member of a group of people.
- Date of visit and arrival and departure time.
What if someone does not wish to share their details?
Sharing details will support the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service’s efforts to control the spread of the virus. It is a requirement under regulation 12 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020 for organisations and businesses to collect and retain the information.
Individuals are encouraged to share their details. Details will only be used in the event of a case, cluster or outbreak of coronavirus (i.e. more than one new case of coronavirus) that is tracked back to your premises. The NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service will use this information to check if they, and any person in their party, may have been exposed.
If the individual still does not want to share their details, and the venue is under a duty to collect those details, they will not be allowed on the premises.
Swansea Council Coronavirus test, trace, protect privacy notice
Mae’r post hwn ar gael yn: Cymraeg (Welsh) hefyd
