A smartphone mainly for QR codes...

[Me+Me]

Yeah actually you can just get a prepay  connection.  Voda do one that costs $20 per year.  I don't think it includes Data but that's not relevant anyway if you don't want to connect to the internet when out and about.  And if you DO want to connect you could always hang round Mc'donalds or the local library they have free wifi.

I was just talking to my sis in OZ, about this, and what you say here, is exactly what she told me. Get a prepay, and use McD's for their free wifi.

Otherwise, I won't bother getting a new phone at all, just to be able to scan.

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Thank you all so much for your imput.

Still not quite sure whether it's worth it, just to scan the QR code, but I'm still open about it, so all this info is very helpful.

Well heres a thing - you'll have to scan codes OR sign a book when you go into a shop, (maybe not all shops but many). If you sign a book you are touching pens/books etc which someone else has also.  Potentially not so good.  Scan a code is easy/quick and also you enable bluetooth tracing that can help also if you're in close proximity with someone who later tests positive.