Travellers and accommodation operators in the Southern Grampians Shire will benefit from on-site temperature testing over the school holidays, with infrared thermometers being distributed to help keep Victorians safe.
On June 26, the State Government announced the provision of infrared thermometers for accommodation businesses to temperature test Victorian travellers, primarily to assist those providers with communal facilities.
Southern Grampians Shire Council has received a supply of these thermometers and has been requested by the State Government to facilitate their distribution to relevant tourism businesses.
The initiative will allow accommodation providers to take a guest’s temperature on check-in, allowing the businesses and their staff to operate with the knowledge that guests are not presenting with a fever, which is one of the symptoms of coronavirus.
Accommodation providers are encouraged to contact their guests 24 hours before arrival to ask them to complete a self-assessment for coronavirus symptoms before they depart. An interactive self-assessment is available on the Department of Health and Human Services website.
As all Victorians with symptoms are being asked to stay home, accommodation providers may ask guests displaying symptoms on arrival to return to their home, if possible.
Businesses are encouraged to read carefully through the State Government’s media release, available at:
• https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/temperature-tests-provide-holiday-security-for-victorians/
To assist with further understanding of what this means for your business, accommodation providers are also asked to refer to the State Government’s Tourism Industry Guidelines which covers:
• Preventing people from attending your venue when unwell
• Checking a guest’s temperature
• What to do if someone has symptoms of COVID-19
• https://www.business.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1904754/Tourism-Industry-Guidelines-for-Coronavirus-COVID-19.pdf
While we understand that accommodation providers may feel a level of anxiety in managing guests in this way, if we are to keep residents and visitors safe, this should become an important element to a business’s COVID-19 Plan.
Registered accommodation providers can collect their thermometer from Council’s Brown Street office at 111 Brown Street Hamilton. If your business is located in a surrounding town please contact our Customer Service Centre on 55730444 or council@sthgrampians.vic.gov.au and we will organise an alternate arrangement for you
Should you need further support in understanding these requirements, please contact the Economic Development & Tourism Team on 1800 807 056.