Contacttracing app available Distancing and extra vehicles ruled out for school bus service

THE Dunedin City Council is making contact tracing easier for Dunedin businesses in Level 2, through a secure mobile app called Rippl.

Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie said this week a few hundred licences had been bought for businesses to use, and the app was a free way for contact tracing to happen.

Once registered, businesses printed a QR code on a poster to display at the entrance to their premises, and those with the Rippl app on their phone — free for individuals — could scan the QR code when entering and leaving, Mr Christie said.

The app, created by Wellington software developer Paperkite, recorded where and when a person scanned in or out of a location.

‘‘We’re trying to make it easier for businesses; we know it’s a tough time.

‘‘Moving into Thursday, we were conscious of the need to get this out quickly — we want them to be up and trading. This helps with that.”

Interested businesses can contact the city council and individuals can download the free app.

THERE will be no room for physical distancing on school bus services when schools resume on Monday, the Ministry of Education says.

Sector enablement and support deputy secretary Katrina Casey said under Level 2, neither distancing nor putting on extra buses would happen because it was not possible to source buses and drivers to maintain distancing.

‘‘Ministry bus services will run to normal timetables.

‘‘School buses are a controlled environment where immediate contact tracing can take place if required.

‘‘Our services can only operate where we have drivers, many of whom are in the highrisk category for Covid19.’’

She said bus companies would take extra measures to make bus drivers feel safe, such as leaving seats near them free.

‘‘Physical distancing isn’t practicable on school buses.’’

The ministry would supply hand sanitiser for pupils and drivers to use on every journey, and there would be increased cleaning and sanitising after each trip.

She said it was each school’s responsibility to maintain uptodate passenger lists and give them to their transport providers.

‘‘If a student appears sick, the transport company will contact the school bus controller immediately.

‘‘The Ministry of Health will contact the school if there are any cases requiring contact tracing.

‘‘Where a bus services more than one school, the ‘head school’ will hold the master list.’’

She said transport assistance for pupils with special needs would also restart under Level 2 and would run to normal timetables.

Schools plan to practise different levels of distancing depending on pupil numbers and school size.