WATERTOWN, MASS. (WHDH) - A Watertown company is doing their part to help screen people for COVID-19 by making thermometers — a device that plays a key role in detecting the virus.
So far, it is unclear when the country will reopen and people will be able to go back to work, but when state officials give the green light, critical items like thermometers will be essential in screening customers and workers alike with contactless thermometers possibly becoming the new normal.
The problem is thermometers are not widely available.
Watertown-based Exergen claims to be the only United States manufacturer of thermometers and say they are shipping six times the normal amount of product daily to hospitals and medical distributors.
They plan to up that to 10 times the normal amount once supplies allow.
Eric Strobert, the founder of Perspective Components, a start-up company in Albuquerque, said his company of five engineers has created a no-contact infrared thermometer called “Temp Check.”
“Temp Check” is a kiosk that can be set up at business schools and other public places to ensure people are healthy before they enter the building.
“For individuals to walk within five feet, all they have to do is turn their head left and right and we are able to measure their temperature within one-degree accuracy,” Strobert said. “If a fever is detected, we can instantly send alerts to the manager.”
According to him, fever detection is part of the “new normal.”
“There are a lot of people saying that there is a possibility that once we start to open back up, we may see a resurgence,” he said. “That’s been seen with multiple other pandemics in the past.”
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