Should Phone Apps Display Body Temperatures For Delivery Workers?
With deliveries now more important than ever, and delivery workers at a greater COVID-19 risk, it is time for apps to display body temperatures?
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From social distancing to lockdown orders, coronavirus has already resulted in some fundamental changes to society. While the more extreme changes are thought to be short-term solutions, maintaining a virus-free city could involve many smaller, but necessary, long-term changes, including more frequent temperature checks, as well as that information being made public to others.
Right now, individuals, cities, and even countries, are rightfully preoccupied with the immediate coronavirus issues, including limiting the spread. However, the impact and threat of COVID-19 is not going to simply end when the curve has been flattened. China is already at that stage and some of the changes it has made since the curve reversed trajectory provide an indication of what other countries might also need to do in order to maintain their own flattened curve.
One of the changes that now appears to be in effect in China is the revealing of a person’s temperature in public situations. For example, a recent Tweet by Derek Andersen highlights that delivery service apps are now more frequently showing the body temperature of delivery workers. Since the Tweet went live, many have responded by showing similar examples of temperature checks in use, and in other countries, including Russia.
Friend in China just shared screenshot from a local delivery service. The delivery person’s body temperature is now displayed in the mobile app on delivery details screen. 😮😮😮 #COVID #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/ChEmrKPeoK
Time For US Delivery Apps To Display Temperatures?
This is not the first example of the post-curve approach taken by China to reassure people that those they interact with are symptom-free. For example, it was recently revealed how China is also using a color-coded app that individuals can use to prove they are asymptomatic and gain access to public places or services. When taking these micro-changes together, what starts to become clear is the attention to detail that countries will need to adhere to once the initial COVID-19 wave has been contained. That is, if they hope to remain free of new infections.
In countries like the US where there are strict lockdown orders now in effect, the reliance on delivery services has never been more evident. This is not only in terms of getting essential products from the likes of Amazon, but with the dine-in market effectively closed, restaurants (and other businesses) have become almost entirely reliant on takeaway and delivery orders. However, it remains to be seen just how confident those in isolation are when it comes to ordering food, or anything other than the absolute essentials, due to the fear of how long coronavirus can potentially live on surfaces – including delivery packaging. For those people, the idea of staying informed on the delivery person’s temperature might prove to be a welcomed change, and motivation to order more often.
As a byproduct, it also might prove to be beneficial for delivery workers. As they are at a higher risk of contracting the virus, a change like this might encourage more frequent temperature checks and symptom-monitoring throughout the day. A last, but equally as important benefit, is that app temperature readings might also act as further encouragement for companies to ensure workers are provided with adequate equipment and protections. Regardless of whether app temperature checks do become more commonplace, it does provide yet another example of the type of changes that will likely need to be implemented to limit the likelihood of a second-wave coronavirus outbreak taking place sooner than expected.
Link Source : https://screenrant.com/delivery-apps-driver-body-temperature-coronavirus/