NEWS: Temperature Screenings May Be Ineffective in Detecting COVID-19, According to New CDC Report

Walt Disney World has implemented many guidelines to promote health and safety for all guests, while still creating the magic that we know and love.

Disney has been pretty strict when it comes to social distancing and face masks policies since its reopening. They’ve also been pretty strict when it comes to checking guests’ temperatures upon entry. Today, a new report from the CDC suggests that temperature-screenings may not be as effective in spotting coronavirus cases as one may think.

The official study from the CDC implies that “Symptom-based screening programs are ineffective because of the nonspecific clinical presentation of COVID-19 and asymptomatic cases.”

The study itself used temperature-screening and symptom-screening methods in airports between the months of January and September. Specifically, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers would perform “a temperature check using a noncontact infrared thermometer.”

Fevers in this study were defined as temperatures above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, the same temperature that Disney uses in identifying potentially symptomatic guests. In its findings, the CDC shared that these measures identified one positive case per 85,000 travelers screened.  

Why such a low yield? It’s possible that individuals may be sick and not present any symptoms like a high temperature during the time of their visit. The CDC also pointed out that it’s possible that in general, there could simply be an overall lower COVID-19 prevalence among travelers.

Ultimately, these findings mirror mathematical models highlighted in the study that  “suggest that most infected travelers would be undetected by symptom-based screening at airports,” which would understandably call into question the effectiveness of these temperature-screening methods at other locations, like restaurants, salons, and theme parks.

With these findings, the CDC has transitioned its focus from screening guests to “enhancing communication with travelers to promote recommended preventive measures, strengthening response capacity at ports of entry, and encouraging pre-departure and post-arrival testing.”

As Disney World increases its park capacity from 25% to 35%, health and safety measures will become more and more important to guests and Cast Members. What could these discoveries from the CDC mean for Disney’s own safety measures moving forward? We’ll keep you up-to-date about any changes to park guidelines and procedures.

Click here to read about another CDC brief regarding the efficacy of face masks protecting the wearer

How do you think Disney World could respond to this news? Let us know in the comments.