Airport body temperature screening
The Canberra Airport was the first major Australian airport to introduce body temperature scanning at security this week as an additional safety measure against COVID-19.
Head of Aviation, Michael Thomson, said that Canberra Airport is open for business and the body scanning was another step the airport is taking for passengers to feel safe and secure when flying.
“As passengers departing Canberra pass through airport security a camera takes their image and records their temperature in real-time,” Mr Thomson said.
“If a passenger has a body temperature over 37.8 degrees celsius they will be attended by a registered nurse immediately. The nurse will provide a face mask, offer to take their temperature again, and ask the passenger to participate in a questionnaire.
“If a passenger continues to display signs of high temperature or fever then the airline they intend to travel with will be informed. This way both the individual passenger and the airlines will be best informed to make sensible decisions about whether the passenger should be travelling at this time.
“This is one measure in a suite of measures we’re employing through and beyond COVID-19—including extra cleaning, hand-sanitiser being available, social distancing measures within the terminal and more.
“Canberra Airport is open for business and we always put your safety first. I encourage passengers to get back to flying for essential travel knowing that our body temperature screening is yet another step we are taking for you to feel safe when you travel.”
ACT AMA president Dr Antonio Di Dio said doctors welcomed the new technology.
“We thank the owners of Canberra Airport for this action which we think is responsible and prudent, but also shows leadership in how we can minimise and mitigate risks for all travellers to and from Canberra,” Dr Di Dio said.
To view a video of the process, click here.
Photo credit: Karleen Minney, Canberra Times