Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

QR codes for idiots please!

10 replies

AcornAutumn · 08/04/2021 21:03

hi

I have obviously tried to dig out this information online but can't find the answers to my specific questions and don't understand the language around QR codes.

so here goes - looking for factual answers to these questions.

  1. if you scan a QR code to enter a venue, does the data get stored by the venue or go direct to the app? Or both?

  2. do you literally scan the code and that's it? No other details to enter?

  3. how does it know when you leave?

  4. is the QR code dependent on people having the app?

Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
AcornAutumn · 08/04/2021 22:59

Hopeful bump

OP posts:
reformedcharacters · 08/04/2021 23:05

After scanning the code and either opening a dedicated app or directed to a webpage, the information you input would go to whoever is managing the data for the app or page.

hotchocdrinker · 08/04/2021 23:10

As far as I am aware, you need the NHS app in order to scan the QR code.

The venue does not get told any info about who has scanned the code, though it does have an obligation to keep some kind of record of who comes into the venue. I run a village hall and we have a QR code. When exercise classes begin again, for example, then the person taking the class will need to keep records of who attends so that they can be contacted if required.

You don't 'tell' the app when you leave somewhere having checked in earlier. I think that if you have the contract tracing switched on on the app then it would know that you has left.

Original poster
AcornAutumn · 08/04/2021 23:13

@reformedcharacters

After scanning the code and either opening a dedicated app or directed to a webpage, the information you input would go to whoever is managing the data for the app or page.
So these stories of pub staff getting phone numbers, they're not going to get them from the app?

That doesn't make sense alongside the village hall example?

Mate of mine said the whole point was to save staff taking records.

OP posts:
reformedcharacters · 08/04/2021 23:16

I should imagine a pub would only have your number if you actually gave it to them.

I’m guessing the app contacts those who have been in contact with a positive?

RichardMarxisinnocent · 08/04/2021 23:20

@AcornAutumn

hi

I have obviously tried to dig out this information online but can't find the answers to my specific questions and don't understand the language around QR codes.

so here goes - looking for factual answers to these questions.

  1. if you scan a QR code to enter a venue, does the data get stored by the venue or go direct to the app? Or both?

  2. do you literally scan the code and that's it? No other details to enter?

  3. how does it know when you leave?

  4. is the QR code dependent on people having the app?

Thank you.

If you're talking about the NHS covid app and using it to check in to restaurants, pubs etc then my understanding of the answers is:
  1. The data goes just to the app
  2. You literally just scan the code, and it tells you you have checked in
  3. You don't check out and it doesn't know when you leave, but if I recall correctly it automatically checks you out at midnight. I know some people last summer were worried about it thinking they were there at the same time as someone who tested positive, when in actual fact they weren't, and having to self isolate. But the intention of the check in isn't to make people self isolate because someone in the venue had covid. It's so any outbreaks linked to a venue can be identified, and people who have been to the venue can be identified and advised to perhaps take a test, or to be aware of possible symptoms. I think I read about a slight change to use of the data but I don't recall what it was. Will check
  4. A venue will have a qr code which can only be scanned by the NHS covid app.
Last year some also had a code which took you to their own site where you could enter your details, for people who didn't have the app. They should also give people the option to write down their name and contact number.

Hope this makes sense!

RichardMarxisinnocent · 08/04/2021 23:23

A bit more info about checking out and alerts:

Do I need to check out of venues with the NHS COVID-19 app?
When you check into venues using the NHS COVID-19 app and official NHS QR code posters, this data is held on your phone.

You do not need to check out of a venue. Contact tracers will only ask for the date you were at a venue, not the time.

When you check in somewhere new, your phone will know you have left the previous venue. It will automatically check you out of your latest venue at midnight.

If it’s identified that people with coronavirus (COVID-19) have been to a venue, it may be decided that anyone who was at that venue on the same date will get an alert.

This alert will tell you that you visited a venue on the same day as people that have tested positive for coronavirus. It will ask you to follow the latest advice on social distancing. It will not tell you to self-isolate.

Original poster
AcornAutumn · 08/04/2021 23:25

Thank you everyone, I can make sense of it now!

OP posts:
RichardMarxisinnocent · 08/04/2021 23:27

These are the FAQs linked to in the app, hopefully the link works
faq.covid19.nhs.uk/category/?id=CAT-01035

If you scan the QR code using the app, nobody should need to be taking your details. If you don't have the app, then they would need details from you (which they should be destroying after a certain length of time)

Original poster
AcornAutumn · 14/04/2021 18:50

Today I walked past Nando's and the way they describe the QR code, it sounds like it's linked to your food order.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page