NH company sees increased demand for thermal cameras to screen for COVID-19

The cameras can’t detect the virus, but they can take people’s temperatures without getting close to them. The Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Manchester is already using the technology, as is a grocery store in Georgia and other facilities.

“Whereas, now, you get screened for metal or your ID, perhaps there will be now another data point of the elevated skin temperature readings,” said Paul Czerepuszko, of FLIR Systems.

FLIR Systems’ cameras can detect an individual’s temperature from a distance. The company doesn’t recommend suing the cameras for scanning crowds.

“We want to look at people one at a time, because what we are trying to do is we are trying to get the temperature of the tear duct, the inner canthus (corner) of the eye, which is the best correlation of core body temperature,” Czerepuszko said.

Since 2011, the company maintained a facility in Nashua with 200 employees.

Company officials said they first provided the cameras to airports in Asia during the 2003 SARS outbreak and they’re now seeing demand grow in the United States because of due COVID-19.

“As the virus made its way from China over to Europe and now here in the states, were seeing that similar adoption, again from government agencies, from private industries, manufacturing, hospitals,” Czerepuszko said.

He said FLIR Systems is working with facilities including Wynn Casino and Emirates Airlines, in addition to the grocery store in Georgia and the Manchester VA Medical Center.

When the camera detects a high temperature, it’s up to the organization using the equipment to decide the next step.

“We’re just a first line or first level of screening capabilities for this virus,” Czerepuszko said.

The company has Food and Drug Administration approval for the cameras. As for privacy issues, Czerepuszko said the cameras only capture thermal images and not detailed pictures in visible light.