The coronavirus disease has unexpectedly swept the world into a blazing turmoil. It has led to a lot of changes in various areas of our life. We were forced to stay at home because of the possibility of anyone becoming carriers of the disease. It has made so many lives miserable and ended some as well.
However, the rest of us must live on to tell the tale of what happened during these times. It is a stark reminder for the future that there are some things that we cannot quickly solve as a species. We may have all of the advanced technology, but nature always finds a way to give back.
Meanwhile, we are doing whatever we can to control the spread of the virus. Many organizations are looking for a cure or at least a vaccine. Unfortunately, it takes a long time to develop such a drug, so we need to manage ourselves with our surroundings. Many countries have tried to isolate the virus through its carriers, quarantining the entire nation if they have to. This is what happened with the USA a few months ago, and we can still feel the effects until now.
One of the most crucial steps that were tried by our country was recommended by the World Health Organization: maintaining social distancing. It means that each person should be at least six feet away from each other in public. This also includes wearing masks and facial shields whenever applicable to the situation. It is still being practiced today, as the cases went higher this month.
The Importance of Social Distancing
Social distancing has affected businesses in so many ways. It limited the number of people going into establishments, causing loss of income. The rent did not change as well, and some have even increased due to the owners’ needs. Meanwhile, places that needed people to stay in for a long time, such as restaurants and cinemas, were closed for a long time. The losses were reflected in the economy, causing many to go bankrupt or their shares decreased in value, as you may read here: https://www.brookings.edu/research/ten-facts-about-covid-19-and-the-u-s-economy/.
However, it is essential to follow these rules as the virus does not care about businesses or money. It will affect anyone who has a weak immune system or is exposed to it. To solve the businesses’ issue, though, many other rules were introduced to keep the number of people at a minimum. Meanwhile, they still generated money through these ventures. The restrictions became the reason why people accepted the idea of contact tracing through these establishments.
One of the critical ways of knowing if a person has COVID-19 is through their temperature. As we all know, the average body temperature is around 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Some references state a range for the average temperature from 97 to 99 degrees Fahrenheit. If it goes over 100.4 degrees, it means that they may have a fever. On the other hand, it is not a good thing if it is on the low side, but it is not an indication of COVID-19.
It is important to note that not all people who have a fever should be considered to have COVID–19. Fever is a normal bodily reaction, raising the body’s temperature to combat illnesses and harmful organisms from entering the body. However, there is no other way to detect COVID-19 quicker than assuming anyone who has a fever may already have the virus. Based on this article, this is why establishments across the country can deny anyone from entering their premises if they have a fever.
We are all aware that there are a lot of instruments used for detecting temperatures. All of them are considered thermometers, but the way they are used varies greatly. For example, most homes would have a digital or a mercury thermometer used by the family. They are still somewhat useful, but they are not practical for many people. Thus, there have been products introduced that still practices social distancing without failing to measure temperatures.
Temp Trackers
You have already seen some of these if you went outside during this quarantine. Most of them are situated near each building’s entrances, used by guards on people before they can enter. These are temperature sensors, making it quick and easy to do it without any contact at all.
Some people joke that some of the models look like mini pistols since they have the same body. Other models even have a trigger-like way to measure temperature. This uses the lobe on the forehead to measure the temperature of the person. It is more efficient than other options since you do not have to wait that long to have a result.
Meanwhile, there is another option that you can use, and it has cameras on it. It still does the same thing as the classic digital sensors, but even better since it maximizes the distance. As you can see in products like Athena temperature detection, it looks like a smartphone attached to a stand. You might think that it seems impractical, but there are a lot of advantages to this product. These uses, however, may have some concerns that need to be addressed immediately.
First off, the distance it creates from the user is useful in maintaining the social distance mandate. Some of these product’s iterations are so sensitive that they can sense temperature from more than two meters away. The user might need to stand still before the results show up, but it is even faster than the usual gun-like apparatus. You also do not need to have someone standing by before you can use it. The device is more like a DIY way of measuring temperature, as this link says: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/general-hospital-devices-and-supplies/non-contact-infrared-thermometers.
However, there have been some concerns about this product. Some experts believe that these cameras are an issue for digital privacy. In this modern world, most people do not like their personal photos taken without their consent, and they can use it as grounds for a possible case. Meanwhile, companies are also apprehensive about using this for fear of the same thing. It is a useful tool, though, and there are ways to use it without the fear of a lawsuit like blurring out of the user’s face.
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