Lois Larson
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, airports around the world have implemented thermal screening to detect passengers with elevated body temperatures, a possible indicator of an infectious disease. Thermal screening is a process of detecting radiation, with the amount of radiation emitted by an object increasing with temperature. This allows thermal cameras to identify passengers with a fever, who can then be further evaluated for COVID-19. While this technology has been used to help reassure the public, its effectiveness in preventing the spread of COVID-19 has been questioned, especially due to the virus's long incubation period and mild or asymptomatic cases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To detect passengers with a high temperature, and therefore a possible infectious disease |
| Effectiveness | Controversial; scientific evidence does not support entry screening as an efficient measure for detecting incoming travellers with infectious diseases |
| Incidence | Used in airports in India, Hawaii, Canada, the US, and the UK |
| Installation | Installed by hand or by companies such as NEC and Infrared Cameras |
| Temperature threshold | Typically 100.4°F |
| Data retention | Images are deleted within 30 minutes and are not shared with outside agencies |
| Personal information | No personal information is collected, such as name, address, or license number |
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What You'll Learn
- Thermal screening detects radiation, allowing variations in temperature to be seen
- Airports use thermal screening to detect passengers with a fever
- Thermal screening was used during the SARS and bird flu epidemics
- Thermal screening is controversial as it's not always effective at detecting early signs of infection
- Thermal screening is being used to detect Covid-19 symptoms
Thermal screening detects radiation, allowing variations in temperature to be seen
Thermal screening is a process that detects radiation emitted by objects, allowing variations in temperature to be seen. The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature, and this relationship is what allows thermal imaging to identify people with fevers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, thermal screening has been used at airports to detect passengers with elevated body temperatures, which could indicate an infectious disease. Airports in Hawaii, India, and other countries have implemented this technology to identify passengers with temperatures above 100.4°F, who can then be pulled aside for further evaluation.
While thermal screening can help detect individuals with fevers, it is not always effective at identifying early signs of infection, especially during the incubation period. Other measures, such as providing information on seeking care if symptoms develop, are also crucial in reducing the risk of transmission.
Despite some limitations, thermal screening technology has been viewed as a positive step towards enhancing travel safety and restoring confidence in air travel during the pandemic. It allows for more efficient screening of passengers, streamlining the travel process while also working to keep communities safe.
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Airports use thermal screening to detect passengers with a fever
Thermal screening is a process of detecting radiation, as the amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature. Thermography allows for the detection of variations in temperature, thus identifying individuals with a fever. Airports in India, such as those in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai, have implemented thermal sensors to screen passengers for fevers. Similarly, Hawaii has introduced thermal screening equipment in several of its airports, including the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Kahului Airport.
This equipment, installed by NEC Corporation and Infrared Cameras Inc., detects passengers with a temperature of 100.4° F and above. If a passenger's temperature exceeds this threshold, an alert appears on the monitor, prompting a Hawaii National Guard member or airport representative to pull them aside for further evaluation. This may include an additional medical screening and the option to take a COVID-19 test, with their information collected for contact tracing if necessary.
While thermal screening provides reassurance to the public, its effectiveness in preventing the spread of infectious diseases has been questioned. Critics argue that it cannot detect every infected traveller, especially during the incubation period, which for COVID-19, can be up to 14 days. Additionally, some cases may be mild and asymptomatic, making it challenging for thermal screening to identify these individuals. As a result, other measures, such as providing information on seeking care if symptoms develop, are crucial in reducing the risk of transmission.
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Thermal screening was used during the SARS and bird flu epidemics
Thermal screening is a process used at airports to detect passengers with an elevated body temperature, which could indicate an infectious disease. This method of screening was widely implemented during the SARS epidemic in 2003 and the bird flu epidemic in 2009.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a highly infectious disease caused by a coronavirus. The use of thermal imaging cameras has been proposed as a non-invasive, speedy, cost-effective, and accurate means of mass blind screening for SARS-infected individuals. This method of screening is useful for detecting fever, a common symptom of SARS, avian influenza, and other infectious diseases.
During the SARS epidemic, Canada saw 251 cases, yet their intensive border screening failed to flag a single one. This highlights the limitations of thermal screening, which is not always effective at detecting early signs of infection. The accuracy of thermal imaging is impacted by human, environmental, and equipment variables, as well as the fact that it measures skin temperature rather than core body temperature.
Despite its limitations, thermal screening can play a role in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, especially when combined with other measures such as providing information on seeking care if symptoms develop. Thermal screening was one of the preventive safety measures implemented by airports during the COVID-19 outbreak, along with travel bans and border closures.
In summary, thermal screening was indeed used during the SARS and bird flu epidemics, and while it has its limitations, it can be a useful tool in the early detection of infectious diseases, contributing to public health crisis management.
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Thermal screening is controversial as it's not always effective at detecting early signs of infection
Thermal screening has been implemented in airports to detect passengers with a fever, an early symptom of COVID-19 infection. This technology was also used during the 2003 SARS epidemic and the 2009 bird flu epidemic.
However, thermal screening is controversial as it is not always effective at detecting early signs of infection. A study from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that out of every 100 infected travellers taking a 12-hour flight, 42 would pass through both entry and exit screening undetected. This is due to the long incubation period of the virus, which can be up to 14 days, as well as the presence of mild or asymptomatic cases. In addition, the accuracy of thermal scanners depends on various factors such as distance, duration, and environment, and can be affected by external factors such as makeup, circulatory problems, and medicines.
Furthermore, Jeanine Pommier of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) states that "scientific evidence does not support entry screening as an efficient measure for detecting incoming travellers with infectious diseases," especially when symptoms are common and overlap with other illnesses, such as the flu. The World Health Organization also does not recommend thermal screening.
Despite its limitations, thermal screening can provide some reassurance to the public and may help streamline the travel process while working to keep communities safe. However, other measures such as providing information on seeking care if symptoms develop may be more effective in reducing the risk of transmission.
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Thermal screening is being used to detect Covid-19 symptoms
Thermal screening is being used at airports to detect Covid-19 symptoms. This technology works by recognising and capturing different levels of infrared light, which is invisible to the naked eye. The hotter an object is, the more infrared radiation it produces. Each temperature is assigned a different colour, making it easy to spot anyone with a raised temperature. Thermal cameras can be wall-mounted or handheld, allowing potentially infected individuals to be monitored from a distance.
Thermal screening is not a new concept, having been widely implemented during the 2003 SARS epidemic and the 2009 bird flu epidemic. However, its effectiveness in detecting Covid-19 has been questioned. While it can detect elevated body temperatures, a symptom of Covid-19, it cannot detect every infected traveller, especially during the incubation period of the virus, which can be as long as 14 days.
In the context of airports, thermal screening equipment has been installed at several airports in Hawaii, including Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Kahului Airport (OGG). This equipment aims to streamline the process for travellers while also keeping the community safe by detecting passengers with a fever. Similar technology has also been adopted by Alabama State University to detect Covid-19 symptoms.
Despite the limitations of thermal screening, it can still provide peace of mind for businesses and workplaces wanting to operate safely during the pandemic. It offers a quick and discrete way to identify individuals who may require further virus-specific tests. While it is not a standalone solution, it can be a useful tool in combination with other measures to help slow the spread of Covid-19.
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Frequently asked questions
Thermal screening is a process of detecting radiation. As the amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature, thermography allows one to see variations in temperature. This means that thermal screening can detect passengers with a high external body temperature, which could indicate a possible COVID-19 infection.
Thermal screening uses automated thermal scanners or thermal cameras to picture every arriving passenger. If a passenger is detected to have a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, an alert appears on the monitor. The passenger is then pulled aside for further evaluation and offered a COVID-19 test.
Thermal screening has been implemented in airports around the world, including in India, Hawaii, and Canada.
The effectiveness of thermal screening has been questioned, especially in the context of COVID-19. While it may help reassure the public, scientific evidence does not support it as an efficient measure for detecting incoming travellers with infectious diseases. This is due to the incubation period of the virus, as well as the presence of mild or asymptomatic cases.
