COVID-19: Dubai to abolish thermal scanners, temperature checks in business establishments
“Thermal scanner and manual temperature checks are not required anymore,” Dubai Economy said in a Tweet on Wednesday. The update also applies to valet parking protocols. As per the update, the requirement for covering the seats and steering wheel with plastic will stand removed, the Tweet added.
Zero closures, fines
Earlier on Wednesday, Dubai Economy tweeted that the business community in Dubai continues with the highest level of compliance with the guidelines with zero fines, zero closures, and zero warnings issued. The inspections at 449 businesses found that they were all fully compliant with the precautionary measures that are set to limit the spread of COVID-19, the authority said.
It was the second consecutive day without any violations recorded. As many as 455 businesses that were inspected on Tuesday were also found to comply with the regulations.
There was no closure or fine recorded after inspections conducted in hundreds of commercial establishments in the past several days as well. However, a few business outlets were issued warning.
Adhere to protocol
Dubai Economy has urged all commercial establishments in Dubai to strictly adhere to all precautionary measures against COVID-19 during New Year celebrations to ensure the safety of the community and to avoid any fines. Precautionary measures include wearing the masks, applying physical distancing, and following the sanitisation protocols.
What doctors say
Removal of thermal cameras and temperature checks from malls is being hailed as a confidence building mechanism by the health care community. These scanners and temperature checks were being carried out at all indoor public places for the last several months as a tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19 .
Right decision
Dr Atul Aundhekar, CEO of Avivo Health Care Group explained: “Detecting temperature by thermal scanners or with sensors was not really helping. Thermals scanners were absorbing the thermal energy from people . Temperature can happen due to any kind of illness and people are smart enough to take antipyretic medications. So this was giving a false sense of security.,” said Dr Aundhekar. He feels the government is acting very rationally and doing the right thing.
