Care home installs thermal scanner at entrance to spot coronavirus

A NEW Milton care home has installed a £5,000 thermal fever scanner at its entrance to help prevent coronavirus, in what its owner said was the first of its kind in the country.

The hi-tech apparatus sets off an alarm if visitors’ temperatures read 37.5 degrees or above.

Families of the home’s 31 residents are not allowed to visit, in line with the government restrictions, but all staff, doctors and nurses are being tested before entering.

Ian Herridge, who has owned the home for 25 years, said: “Coronavirus has caused many sleepless nights, therefore I did my own research and ordered as much PPE as we needed prior to the guidelines changing, and a thermal fever scanner to reduce the risk to the lowest we possibly can.”

Since the scanner was installed, its alarm has sounded once for a staff member. But Mr Herridge stressed the employee, who was sent home, subsequently tested negative for Covid-19.

He added there have so far been no cases of the virus at the home among its residents or its 30-40 staff. There have also been no deaths there during the lockdown period.