BBC staff will have to wear ‘social distancing proximity devices’ in the office to make sure they keep two metres apart
- BBC staff have been told to wear ‘social distancing devices’ which will beep
- Technology will alert them if they are less than 2 metres apart from someone else
- Staff working in office will also be subjected to lateral flow tests twice weekly
BBC staff have been told to wear ‘social distancing devices’ which will beep if they get too close to another person.
In an email today, workers in ‘key BBC locations’ were told they will need to wear the technology which will alert them if they are less than two metres apart from someone else.
Colleagues were called into a meeting at 11am to discuss the changes.
Staff will also be subjected to lateral flow tests, which will be carried out twice-weekly for those in the office four or more days a week.
Workers in ‘key BBC locations’ were told they will need to wear the technology which will alert them if they are less than two metres apart from someone else. Pictured, Broadcasting House, the headquarters of the BBC in London
Workers at Belgium’s Port of Antwerp are required to wear a new wristband that vibrates when they violate social distancing and get too close to another worker
Social distancing app Mind The Gap was designed by Hack Partners for Network Rail. The technology uses audio and Bluetooth signals to detect if users are in close proximity to one another
Staff were told in the email: ‘Social distancing proximity devices will be rolled out in key BBC locations to help maintain social distancing.
‘Anyone coming into those officers will be asked to wear the devices, which will alert wearers when they’re less than two metres apart from someone else.’
A BBC spokesman said: ‘The vast majority of BBC staff continue to work as they have over recent months, either working remotely or in an office location if they are in service critical roles.
‘For those in a BBC building, we’ve been following COVID-secure workplace guidelines throughout the pandemic.
‘We continue to adhere to the two metres rule and we are rolling out social distancing proximity devices to support our staff in maintaining safe social distancing at all times.’
Staff were quick to make light of the announcement on social media today
Staff were quick to make light of the announcement on social media, with BBC North East reporter Colin George sharing the news alongside a meme on Twitter.
BBC Radio 4 and world service producer Beth Sagar-Fenton shared the news alongside a Disney meme.
A raft of technology companies have designed devices to help limit the spread of the coronavirus.
Fitbit and Oura smart rings teamed up with universities to develop an algorithm for their devices to detect the coronavirus before a user shows physical symptoms.
Samsung has also stepped its toe into the market by adding the technology to its Galaxy Watch which tells users how many interactions they have through the day.
The app is also designed to teach and reinforce good hand-washing habits described as part of WHO’s official recommendations for curbing the spread of the infectious disease.
Meanwhile workers at Belgium’s Port of Antwerp are required to wear a new wristband that vibrates when they violate social distancing and get too close to another worker.
And the social distancing app Mind The Gap, designed by Hack Partners for Network Rail, uses audio and Bluetooth signals to detect if users are in close proximity to one another.