As Australia and many other countries begin to “flatten the curve”, attention is now firmly turning to economic recovery and a return to some semblance of societal “normality”. Smart sensing has a critical role to play not only in the clinical diagnosis and therapy of COVID-19 but in the detection and compliance factors that will be required as societies and economies emerge from lockdown measures. 

Across a series of five virtual workshops, the NSSN brings together researchers, industry and government to explore innovative solutions to address COVID-19 issues where smart sensing can play a critical role.

This workshop focusses on Public Screening Techniques. Installing non-contact infrared thermometer (IRT) in ports of entry and crowded places might help in monitoring and preventing the spread of COVID-19. Even though carriers might be asymptomatic, it does not change the fact that fever is one of the COVID-19 symptoms. Non-contact IRT was widely used in 2014 in the West Africa Ebola outbreak for screening populations. It is also installed in Singapore Airport. The installation of IRT may not be useful in detecting asymptomatic carriers, but it could encourage some level of monitoring in the public spaces and herd mentality to stay at home when sick.

This workshop is by invitation only. If you feel you have a valuable contribution and wish to participate, please contact Dr Don McCallum.