LAX installs thermal cameras to screen international travelers for signs of COVID-19 infection – but it will be voluntary and passengers CAN opt out
- Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport will be screened for COVID-19
- Two new thermal camera zones have been installed in the international terminal
- The cameras will screen passengers for temperatures over 100.4°Fahrenheit
- The screening will be voluntary and passengers can opt out via alternate paths
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Los Angeles International Airport will now feature two thermal camera zones to screen travelers for COVID-19 symptoms.
The thermal cameras are currently operating in the Tom Bradley International Terminal, with one in the terminal’s main entrance for departing travelers and another in the arrivals area.
The cameras will scan passengers and flag those with temperatures of 100.4°Fahrenheit or higher, the current Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for a fever, one of the main symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
LAX announced a new COVID-19 screening measure with two thermal camera zones in the Tom Brady International terminal, one in the main departures hall and another in the arrivals area
‘A world-class airport isn’t defined just by our historic investments in a reimagined LAX and an improved traveling experience –– it’s also about world-class safety,’ LA Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a speech at the launch.
‘This project reflects the best of this city’s innovative spirit, and it will help keep travelers healthy and set a new industry standard.’
The thermal camera zones will be voluntary and clearly marked with signs that indicate entering the zone constitutes consent to being scanned.
According to a statement from the Los Angeles World Airport group, the cameras ‘will not store, transmit, or share any data or images taken.’
Passengers who wish to not participate will have access to alternate pathways in and out of the airport terminal.
The cameras will screen travelers for temperatures over 100.4°Fahrenheit, and those with fevers will have the option of speaking with CDC staff to discuss medical options and their travel schedule
Thermal camera screening will be voluntary and the zones will be clearly marked with signs indicating when a person is entering the scanning area. Alternate paths will be available for those who wish to opt out
LAX has implemented a range of new COVID-19 safety measures including UV ionization-equipped air conditioners that sterilize air, and 250 new hand sanitizers in ‘high touch’ areas
If the cameras detect a passenger with a temperature over that mark, airport staff will pull them aside and a follow-up temperature check with a non-contact thermometer will be administered by a medical professional.
If the second test confirms the elevated temperature, the traveller may be referred to CDC staff for additional consultation about scheduling and further medical options.
The thermal camera system is part of a new Terminal Wellness Project, which has aimed to make LAX a safer place for travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other recent measures include installing UV ionization devices to sterilize air conditioners, regular deep cleanings, and 250 new hand sanitizer stations placed in ‘high touch areas’ like check-in desks and shops.
LAX saw more than 88 million passengers in 2019, making it the third busiest airport in the world, behind only Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport.