Temperature checks

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 29 May 2020, 13:19

Why do so many places airports, shops, etc rely on temperature checks, which are useless as around 70-80% of people with the virus are asymptomatic.

It seems like many types of place for reopening will do temperature checks when it doesn't work, potentially meaning that someone who's got the virus could enter somewhere. With the % that are asymptomatic it wouldn't surprise me if 3/4 of the population would have already had it by now

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 29 May 2020, 16:50

It's not supposed to be used as a test to see if you have Covid-19, it's only an indicator that you may have a temperature.

With the % that are asymptomatic it wouldn't surprise me if 3/4 of the population would have already had it by now

It might not surprise you but it would shock every epidemiologist in the world.

Using antibody tests they reckon it's between 5% and 7%. Mind you they're only experts.
The problem with asymptomatic cases is that it's possible they won't develop antibodies, won't show any immunity so in the grand scheme of things would be as well counted as not having had it. This is a real problem if you're hoping for community immunity.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 29 May 2020, 17:23

Woody Guthrie wrote:It's not supposed to be used as a test to see if you have Covid-19, it's only an indicator that you may have a temperature.

With the % that are asymptomatic it wouldn't surprise me if 3/4 of the population would have already had it by now
It might not surprise you but it would shock every epidemiologist in the world.

Using antibody tests they reckon it's between 5% and 7%. Mind you they're only experts.
The problem with asymptomatic cases is that it's possible they won't develop antibodies, won't show any immunity so in the grand scheme of things would be as well counted as not having had it. This is a real problem if you're hoping for community immunity.

I was reading one news story that it's reckoned that a good few that have had it, don't get strong enough antibodies to prevent them from getting it again.

It seems to be heading in the direction of there possibly being no vaccine (not seen any ones in the news that have worked) and if people that have had it aren't developing stong enough antibodies then corona might be something that we'll have to live with

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 29 May 2020, 17:35

It seems to be heading in the direction of there possibly being no vaccine (not seen any ones in the news that have worked) and if people that have had it aren't developing stong enough antibodies then corona might be something that we'll have to live with

It is and always was the most likely scenario.
If you look at the history of coronaviruses immunity has always been relatively short lived and effective vaccines are extremely difficult to introduce.

What should give people hope is that the virus will possibly weaken and treatments will improve so mortality rates should decrease.

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 29 May 2020, 18:40

Apparently, Amazon do temperature checks

But they are useless because the majority of people don't actually develop a temperature until 2 to 14 days after exposure. That means you could potentially have the virus but a temperature check wouldn't show anything because you wouldn't have a fever as yet.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 29 May 2020, 18:44

Long term I'm starting to think that the best we can hope for is like a yearly vaccine, kinda like for the flu which has to be done yearly

Pumpernickel · Post by **Pumpernickel** » 29 May 2020, 18:51

Woody Guthrie wrote: The problem with asymptomatic cases is that it's possible they won't develop antibodies, won't show any immunity so in the grand scheme of things would be as well counted as not having had it. This is a real problem if you're hoping for community immunity.

Some studies are suggesting that a large portion of "asymptomatic cases" weren't asymptomatic at all: they were presymptomatic (ie tested before they developed symptoms, and then went on to develop symptoms after they had been classified "asymptomatic" with no followup).

The portion of the population that could remain asymptomatic throughout their infection is being revised downwards (suggested 30% maximum, from potential 80%), but I think the figures for everything will swing wildly until enough time has passed for a lot more data.

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 29 May 2020, 19:17

postslippete wrote:Apparently, Amazon do temperature checks

But they are useless because the majority of people don't actually develop a temperature until 2 to 14 days after exposure. That means you could potentially have the virus but a temperature check wouldn't show anything because you wouldn't have a fever as yet.

Again you're missing the point.
They're only there to filter out those that may have an obviously high temperature, yes they're useless at determining who has Covid-19 but they're not designed to do that. Nothing short of an antigen test can do that.

hero22 · Post by **hero22** » 29 May 2020, 21:42

Woody Guthrie wrote:
postslippete wrote:Apparently, Amazon do temperature checks

But they are useless because the majority of people don't actually develop a temperature until 2 to 14 days after exposure. That means you could potentially have the virus but a temperature check wouldn't show anything because you wouldn't have a fever as yet.

Again you're missing the point.
They're only there to filter out those that may have an obviously high temperature, yes they're useless at determining who has Covid-19 but they're not designed to do that. Nothing short of an antigen test can do that.

Hows he missing the point ? The temperature check is being used to check for one specific symptom of the virus before someone enters the workplace. No one has stated that a high temperature means you have the virus but is an indicator you may have. As the guy above has said it doesn't mean much if you have had the virus for 2 weeks then develop a high temperature.

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 29 May 2020, 22:28

Hows he missing the point ?

He's missing the point because he says they're useless.
They do exactly what they're meant to do so obviously aren't useless.
I would have thought that was obvious.

postslippete · Post by **postslippete** » 30 May 2020, 18:15

Beats me why would anyone with a high temperature would bother turning up for work in the first place. I suppose if your employer is Amazon you've got to or you might get a warning/disciplinary!

Post by **aiden01** » 30 May 2020, 18:32

postslippete wrote:Beats me why would anyone with a high temperature would bother turning up for work in the first place. I suppose if your employer is Amazon you've got to or you might get a warning/disciplinary!

Just like rm then

A2B · Post by **A2B** » 30 May 2020, 18:42

postslippete wrote:Beats me why would anyone with a high temperature would bother turning up for work in the first place. I suppose if your employer is Amazon you've got to or you might get a warning/disciplinary!

Certain people would come to work with a broken leg if there was overtime to be had