RubeRad

Hey all,

Pursuant to state (or maybe it's county) regulations, my work has instituted mandatory external temperature screening for all employees showing up at work. Most days I can telecommute, but sometimes I have to be physically present, and I'll ride my bike like I normally do.

It seems to me that a cyclist's external skin temperature may be either artificially low due to cool morning breeze, or artificially high due to exertion. Given how lazy a cyclist I am, I think I tend towards the former.

Anybody else have experience with forehead temperature checks? Show up at work exhibiting a spuriously high temperature? Sent home or just made to cool off for a few minutes?

sirjag

my company having same issue here in Austin...employees eat in their car, and come back with temps due to that....they have now raised the threshold to 100F to be considered fever.

RoadKill

Maybe you can pack an oral thermometer to show as evidence because your core temp shouldn't be out of whack.

Bigbus

SEE, I KNEW IT! Riding a bike makes you sick. And nobody ever believed me before.

Tusk

Went to the dentist a couple weeks ago for a permanent crown. Forehead temp - 93.X°. I drove. A/C on my head?
Walking into work with a wet forehead with evaporating sweat? Haven't taken it yet. But I suspect it to be less.
When this all started, I took oral temp for several days. Always ~77.X°. Maybe I was using a rectal thermometer and didn't know?
Point?
Too many external influences for an accurate reading other than core temp. Turn, bend, and hold your ankles?

Bigbus

aggiegrads

I think that he meant 97.X°F, not 77

Cyclist0108

It might be worth pointing out to them that at least 50% of the virus spreaders are asymptomatic.

pdlamb

You'd be wasting your breath. The whole country has bought into the "screen for fever" theatrical trick (except for 1600 Penna. Ave., where excess tests are sent).

I'd suggest checking before you go. If I get nailed, I might get a mandatory 14 day time out -- or maybe not. Standing in the shade for 5 minutes to cool off would be my response.

RubeRad

I've been hearing that it's common to have artificially elevated forehead temp from driving with your windows up and no A/C, even here in SoCal where the mornings are relatively cool (60s)

RubeRad

I always keep a rectal thermometer on me. I offered to prove my real temperature to the rent-a-temp workers, but somehow they weren't interested

RubeRad

That doesn't mean that symptom-checking is pointless, it just means it is not as useful as we'd like

Tusk

Bigbus

They'd need a lot more PPE

Pugs2xLove

My work has been doing the temperature screening for nearly 2 months now and you know what? I still ride to work and they still allow me to stay and work even though my temps won't register. Promised the nurse that my reflection still appear in front of a mirror lol.