England's salons encouraged to continue 'check in' procedures

As England moves into Step 4 of its response to COVID-19 today (19th July), beauty and hair businesses are being encouraged to continue to use the NHS QR code ‘check in' system for clients. 

It is no longer a legal requirement for businesses to display the poster and request clients and staff to ‘check in', however the UK government is strongly encouraging salons to retain their NHS QR code poster and maintain your ‘logbook' containing attendees' contact details. Details on how to store clients' details securely can be found on the Information Commissioner's Office (IOC) website.

Individuals checking in and businesses sharing the records of those who provide their contact details with NHS Test and Trace can help to identify those who may have the COVID-19 virus, say the government.  

Through the use of the NHS QR code, a venue alert will be triggered if there are two or more cases identified at a venue on the same day, and individuals will be asked to book a test as soon as possible but such an alert will not ask individuals to self-isolate. The location where the outbreak was identified will not be shared, and your business will not be asked to close. 

According to government statistics, since April 2021 NHS Test and Trace has issued over 500,000 alerts to individuals who may have been exposed to COVID-19 at a venue they visited.