Thermal imaging cameras: New innovation boost for containing spread of Covid-19

The world is deploying the high use of technology in a bid to control and stop the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. 

From using sophisticated contacting tracing algorithms to the use of thermal imaging camera to identify people with high temperature levels, nothing is being left to chance.

Kenya with 758 Covid-19 cases is also tapping the use of thermal imaging cameras to surveil people’s body temperatures as a tactic to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.

In 2014 the government tapped the use of surveillance cameras to arrest the spiraling cases of crime as well as control traffic flow in major towns in the country.

According to the Kenya police service this solution helped to achieve a 46 percent drop in crime in Nairobi in its first year, from 2014 to 2015.

The success in the use of CCTV cameras in the security sector has led other sectors like health, to tap the technology to deal with emerging pandemic.

Chinese technology giant HikVision is the pioneer in using temperature detecting cameras to deal with Coronavirus where it deployed the technology widely in China early this year, as the country grappled with the pandemic.

According to Peter Ngare technical director at secure digital limited thermal cameras can pick out sick people in a crowd by finding those who have elevated temperatures using both thermal and optic technology.

Fever is a symptom of Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

So far the technology is being pioneered at Nairobi West hospital where Medical director Andrew Kanyi says, it has reduced contact between personnel and visitors.

Apart from hospitals the system has proven to be efficient in areas with large populations like factories, markets, streets among other areas according to Delano Kiilu who works with the protective and safety association of Kenya.

But how effective is the new technology and are there chances of cyber criminals infiltrating the system.

It takes one second for a thermal camera to detect the temperature of each person, reducing congestion and the risk of infection from physical contact.

According to Dr Kanyi the government should recommend the use of this technology as the country moves to reopen the economy.

Apart from Kenya, Ngare says the technology has been widely used in the United States, South Africa and Europe in a bid to arrest the spread of Coronavirus with positive results.