Mass temperature checks at airports would not help to stop the spread of Covid-19, Hiqa warned today.
And it might be possible to become infected with the virus again, as it remains unclear just how long immunity against Covid-19 can last.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) published a report on the effectiveness of mass thermal screenings in airports.
The report, based on a review of other studies that relate to Covid-19 and other respiratory virus pandemics, is designed to support the National Public Health Emergency Team’s (NPHET’s) response to Covid-19.
It found that mass screening programmes using non-contact devices such as infrared thermal scanners did not prevent the spread of Covid-19.
It also found that mass screenings, which include temperature checks and self-reporting symptoms, did not help in identifying people who were infected with the virus.
Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA’s Deputy CEO and Director of Health Technology Assessment, said: “Thermal screening has been used in other respiratory infectious disease outbreaks, such as the 2009 H1N1influenza pandemic in Asia and Australia, to improve detection and reduce the time to isolation of infected individuals.
“It typically involves a combination of fever screening, such as temperature testing, alongside self-reporting of exposure risk and or symptoms.
“However, the evidence clearly shows that this type of test is likely to be ineffective in limiting the spread of Covid-19.”
Mass temperature screenings are also very costly, while proving to be little help in the fight against Covid.
Dr Ryan said: “Thermal screening is noted to be high cost and resource intensive.
“Detection rates are very low due to a large proportion of cases that have no symptoms, are infectious before showing any symptoms or who do not present with fever.”
However, Hiqa only looked at the effectiveness of mass thermal screening within the context of airports, and not other settings such as schools. Therefore, its effectiveness in other community settings remains unclear.
Meanwhile, Hiqa also published its latest review on immunity to Covid-19.
It appears that people can build an immunity to the virus - but they might still be able to catch Covid-19 again.
Dr Ryan said: “It remains unclear whether long-term immunity to SARS-CoV-2 - the virus that causes COVID-19 - is possible.
“SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibody was detected in nearly all individuals up to three months after they were infected, and over 90% of patients had developed a neutralising antibody response, which protects against viral infectivity.
“However, a handful of new studies suggest that it may be possible to be re-infected with SARS-CoV-2.
“Hiqa will continue to monitor the evidence on immunity.”
Hiqa’s research was developed following requests from NPHET’s Clinical Expert Advisory Group.
