Delta Air Lines has begun checking passenger temperatures at Los Angeles International Airport in a trial that may roll out systemwide if successful.
Delta Adds Temperature Checks At LAX
Stating today, Delta will begin a three-week trial program in which departing passengers from Terminal 2 will be screened for fevers. Anyone with a temperature above 100.4ºF will not be allowed to fly. A Delta spokesperson explained:
“As a part of our ongoing efforts to reduce the COVID-19 infection rate and provide additional layers of protection for our customers and employees, we are testing a temperature screening process for customers flying out of LAX Terminal 2. Customers who have a temperature of 100.4 or higher will not be allowed to board consistent with the CDC’s fever threshold.”
Temperature checks alone are not necessarily helpful. Many afflicted with COVID-19 show no outward symptoms but are still highly contagious. But as part of a multi-layered approach, temperature checks can be helpful. While not having a temperature proves little, having a temperature suggests something is wrong, whether the virus or not.
Passengers connecting between domestic Delta flights at LAX will not undergo temperature screening. Those with temperatures above 100.4ºF can opt for a rebooking or refund.
LAX already screens passengers with thermal imaging and temperature checks as they enter the Tom Bradley International Terminal.
CONCLUSION
Frontier Airlines became the first U.S. airline to conduct temperature checks, which started in May. Delta becomes the second. While this is simply a trial program at one airport, it offers a window into what we might see on a more widespread basis until rapid, reliable testing is available.
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(H/T: Thrifty Traveler)
Theater.
Seems like this should be done before people get into security lines, or even can get into the building.
How dare you impinge on their freedoms!!!!!! You commie revolutionary!!!!!!!!
Matt, typo, week not weak.
I am currently sick, possibly with Covid-19. It can be bad but I now believe I will probably not die. For a few days, I didn’t have a temperature 100.4 or above. So this measure is in the correct direction but likely low effectiveness. It just depends on how much we want to spent and for what benefit.
One (bad) example would be if there were police roadblocks to check people’s tire pressure. Low tire pressure causes worse gas mileage so harms the planet. Tire pressure monitoring systems are required to set off an alarm when a tire is 20% low, which is really too low. You should add air before a 20% deficit.