Use of the NZ Covid-19 contact tracer app has waned. Photo / George Novak
Use of the NZ Covid-19 contact tracer app has waned. Photo / George Novak
Tauranga business leaders fear complacency over the use of Covid-19 contact tracing tools is leaving the community vulnerable in the event of another outbreak.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson said the daily average usage of NZ Covid-19 tracing app had dropped since most of the country went into alert level1 from 1.5 million scans to about 1.1 million as at September 30.
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley said he was deeply concerned complacency was creeping in for some people in terms of the app usage.
"I certainly continue to do so, and apart from a couple of occasions, I can honestly say I have used it more than 95 per cent of the time.
"I know people are over Covid-19 and tired of the social distancing and contact tracing requirements. But we don't know when we can expect another sudden outbreak, and regions like the Bay of Plenty are very vulnerable given the number of our visitors.
Tauranga Chamber of Commerce chief executive Matt Cowley. Photo / File
"That's only going to increase in the coming months especially over the summer holiday break, and the last thing anyone wants is to have to go back to alert level 2 or 3."
Cowley said the reason Taiwan and Singapore had been so successful in keeping their cases down was those countries were robustly using contact tracing apps.
"The app is the key to quickly identifying those who potentially at risk. Continuing to use it is the only way we're going to be able to have serious conversations about establishing a transtasman bubble and speed up our economic recovery," he said.
Cowley said another serious outbreak would be the "last straw" for businesses still struggling to come back from the previous lockdown.
Hospitality NZ Bay of Plenty regional manager Alan Sciascia. Photo / File
Hospitality NZ Bay of Plenty regional manager Alan Sciascia said he and his organisation shared Cowley's concerns about a reduction in the use of the tracing app.
"Tracing where people go is a very important way of containing any outbreak which may occur. Every business is required to display the QR code, allowing easy use of the app.
"However, they have no control over whether or not people use it other than encouraging them to do so. As the app retains all usage as personal data, businesses have no idea as to whether it was used correctly or at all," Sciascia said.
"Hospitality NZ certainly encourages everyone to use the app, which will help contain any future outbreaks," he said.
Downtown Tauranga chairman Brian Berry. Photo / File
Downtown Tauranga chairman Brian Berry said he also felt many people had become too complacent about the risk of contracting the virus, and contact tracing was vital.
"Some businesses are barely recovering from the lockdown and if they get another hit it is likely to take them to the wall," Berry said.
"We need everyone to take personal responsibility and use the app if they have a mobile device and also maintain the social distancing requirements.
"This is not just an Auckland and Christchurch issue as, over the summer, thousands of people will be travelling and many will coming to Tauranga and other parts of the Bay.
"We need to ensure that if there is another outbreak we can contact trace those at risk and ensure we protect our whole community, including struggling businesses."
Tracey Pettit, the owner of Findings vintage goods store in 9th Avenue, said she agreed the usage of the app was far less since moving to level 1.
"But no one is using our sign-in book any more either. I think that is more because some people's perceived risk of catching Covid-19 is not as high as it was before."
Two shoppers on the street said they had never downloaded the app and had stopped using contract tracing tools because the country was in level 1.
A Tauranga central resident said she had stopped using the app since the move to level 1 and she was no longer contract tracing.
"We haven't had a community transition in a Tauranga and I think the risk is very low. I think there is more chance of a seagull pooping on my head than me catching the virus."
A staff member from Gluten Free Me in Cameron Rd said she was amazed lots of people were still using the app but people aged over 30 were the most regular users.
"I agree there has been some drop-off since moving to alert level 1 but we are actively encouraging people who don't have the app on their phone to sign in at the counter.
"It's very important that we all continue to do our bit to ensure those at risk can be contacted if there was a community transition outbreak in Tauranga," she said.
A ministry spokesperson said there were 2,300,400 users registered on NZ Covid Tracer, including 85,373 from the Bay of Plenty.
The ministry could not provide figures for scanning in the region but believed the national drop was "due to a behaviour change by people since moving to alert level 1".
"We also believe that the drop is also due to some app users not refreshing their logins at least every 30 days as a security measure.
"All New Zealanders should continue to use the app to track their movements whether they are travelling or staying local, no matter what alert level and gathering size, so we can quickly let people know when they may have been exposed to Covid-19."
