Worksite Temperature Screening for COVID-19.

Stave, Gregg M; Smith, Sharon E; Hymel, Pamela A; Heron, Richard J L · J Occup Environ Med · 2021

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

To determine whether temperature screening is useful in detecting and reducing workplace transmission of SARS-CoV-2. A survey was conducted to determine whether temperature screening successfully identified workers with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among a convenience sample of medical directors of multinational corporations in a wide range of industries. More than 15 million screenings were performed by 14 companies. Fewer than 700 episodes of fever were identified. Of these, only about 53 cases of COVID-19 were detected. By contrast about 2000 workers with diagnosed COVID-19 were in the workplace and not detected by screening. One case of COVID-19 was identified by screening for approximately every 40 cases that were missed. Worksite temperature screening was ineffective for detecting workers with COVID-19 and is not recommended.

Medical subject headings