You may soon notice automatic temperature monitors posted at some entrances to high-traffic places in Grey Bruce and Huron counties.
As part of its $1 million Be A Light: Beating COVID-19 Together campaign, Bruce Power is donating $150,000 in protective equipment to a number of communities and organizations across Bruce, Grey and Huron counties.
A release from the company says it will donate 175,000 three-ply disposable masks and 2,000 bottles of hand sanitizer to primary health care facilities, Indigenous communities, and other organizations in the region.
It also includes 50 self-standing automatic temperature monitors for long-term and health care facilities, and other high-traffic areas.
Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Operations James Scongack says the thermal monitors are, “An additional tool,” which he says could also provide a moment for people to stop before they enter a place and ask themselves if they remembered their mask and remembered to wash or sanitize their hands, “We think it has that benefit,” says Scongack adding, “I can’t give you a scientific expert opinion…we do know they measure temperature well, with the concept of, if you have a high fever you shouldn’t go into one of those areas,” Scongack says adding if that’s the case Public Health can advise a person on whether or not they should get a COVID-19 test.
He explains, “If Bruce Power believes it’s good to put all our employees through, why don’t we make it available to the community? If people in the community don’t want to use it, they don’t have to. This is really just throwing everything but the kitchen sink at doing our best to help.”
The release from Bruce Power says, “These temperature monitors provide hands-free, rapid temperature screening and increased efficiency, while reducing risks associated with handheld temperature devices. This support will help enhance safety and protect the local economy by adding another layer of protection for people in our communities.”
Meanwhile, in a statement on other PPE, Pat Dalzell, Bruce Power’s Head of Corporate Affairs says,”With rising COVID numbers across the region and province, we recognized how important protective equipment is to stopping the spread,” said . “By getting masks and hand sanitizers to the facilities and businesses that need them we can help keep the community safe from COVID-19. By providing automatic temperature monitors to local long-term and health care facilities, we’re also providing another protective barrier for our society’s most vulnerable population – our seniors and the ill – as well as our vitally important frontline workers.”
Bruce Power’s Be a Light: Beating COVID-19 Together campaign is putting $1 million into work with public health, county and municipal governments, chambers of commerce, hospitals, local MPs and MPPs, and community organizations to redouble efforts to battle the pandemic.
Its five point plan includes support for public health communications, additional community protections, supporting buying local, mental and physical initiatives and helping food banks, long-term care facilities and community organizations.