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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think temperature tests area waste of time

19 replies

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 22/10/2020 18:11

So many venues are using temperature tests to assure themselves visitors are covid free, from the GPs to Comedy clubs with restaurant and pubs in between.
My temperature hovers around 34-35 degrees - so I could have a significantly raised temperature for me, and still be allowed in. I asked a colleague (professional medical background) and they assured me its not that unusual.
I've only been challenged on my low temperature a couple of times out of maybe 30 entry checks - I assure people that I haven't died of hypothermia and always managed to get in so far.

OP posts:
notanotheronepleasee · 22/10/2020 18:32

I agree but more so because so many people are asymptomatic surely it isn't worth it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Taswama · 22/10/2020 18:35

Agreed. Having a temperature doesn't mean you have Covid and you don't necessarily have a temperature even if you do have Covid.

SunbathingDragon · 22/10/2020 18:41

It’s something immediate and practical that a venue can do to try to reduce risk. It’s better than nothing even though it’s a long way from fool proof.

Camomila · 22/10/2020 18:57

I'm always cold too, when I had (probably) coronavirus, I spent two weeks in bed shivering and was breathless for a few days, the highest my temperature got was 37.4

Pickypolly · 22/10/2020 18:58

I’m menopausal so I’m fucked wherever I go!

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 22/10/2020 19:01

I agree and the laser ones are rubbish compared to the ear ones anyway, they are so inaccurate its pointless. I felt dreadful once, really awful, but didnt have a temperature according to the laser one we had. I went to the doctor as felt like I couldn't breathe (a couple of years ago so ore covid) and my temperature was almost 40. 3 degrees is quite a lot to be out by!

Goosefoot · 22/10/2020 19:01

Yes, not very useful and even more of a pain for people who run a little hot.

Kids especially often run slight fevers.

CandleWick4 · 22/10/2020 19:02

Agree. One was taken on me when I went to a salon and it was 35.4, I said that can’t be right that’s bordering on hypothermic. She said no that’s right it’s cold outside Hmm my temperature was not 35.4 and she didn’t understand how body temperature works - absolute waste of time

Lostthefairytale · 22/10/2020 19:05

It's completely pointless. We do this at work with a forehead infrared. Anyone who has been outside for any length of time before arriving runs approx 2 degrees lower than they do after they have been inside for a while. So they arrive, we think they are find, 25 minutes later they could have a temp and we wouldn't have a clue.

Si1ver · 22/10/2020 19:09

I've just had covid, confirmed with a test and was quite ill. My temperature didn't go above 37 degrees at any point.

DieSchottin93 · 22/10/2020 19:39

YANBU. Every time I blow dry my fringe before work the forehead temperature gun tells me I have a fever...yet if I flip my fringe back down and do the reading with my hair in the way it comes up between 32-33°C Confused Confused yet the gym next door has a similar temperature reader (except that one is fixed to the desk) and consistently reads my temperature as between 36.4-36.6°C, regardless of my blow dry status. Makes no sense.

Original poster
EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 22/10/2020 22:52

not just me then Smile

OP posts:
Wobblysausage · 22/10/2020 22:58

Yep my temperature is always low. I’ve just had Covid (tested positive) and my temperature stayed the same throughout and so did DD’s.

MitziK · 22/10/2020 23:10

@Lostthefairytale

It's completely pointless. We do this at work with a forehead infrared. Anyone who has been outside for any length of time before arriving runs approx 2 degrees lower than they do after they have been inside for a while. So they arrive, we think they are find, 25 minutes later they could have a temp and we wouldn't have a clue.
That's strange. I take mine every day when I get into work as a calibration for the rest of the day that I'm using it and, despite being outside for at least 45 minutes, it has never varied more than between 36.1 and 36.2 from first coming in to an hour later.

Means that when somebody flags up at 38 (and are feeling unwell, which is why it's being tested), I know there's an issue with them.

Mind you, mine is set to take body temp, not surface temp, which is a completely different thing.

toomuchtoworryabout · 22/10/2020 23:20

I have always had a slightly higher than normal temperature. It’s perfectly usual for me to be at 37.5 throughout the day and sometimes slightly higher in the evening.
I have always been like this, it’s just the way I am, but obviously convincing someone else of this fact is going to fall on deaf ears, especially now.

MrsDeltaB · 23/10/2020 01:03

Ah well hey, if you have any alternative fool proof measures that you think would work in a world nobody has ever lived in then please let us know.

Damned if they do, damned if they don't. If you have a better idea then go for it.

wafflyversatile · 23/10/2020 01:08

It's a simple cheap and quick way of reducing risk.

TheHighestSardine · 23/10/2020 01:59

not just me then Smile

It's better than nothing. That doesn't make it worthless. Don't be smug about your logical fallacy.

Mypathtriedtokillme · 23/10/2020 02:06

It’s Safety theatre like most of the checks in airports.
It makes people feel safer rather than them actually be safer

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