The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has deployed a “Temperature Brigade” consisting of medically trained personnel to check temperatures of heroic employees at 22 strategic locations as they report to work throughout the MTA service region, helping to reduce the spread of illnesses as the organization battles the COVID-19 pandemic.

“One of the best ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to ensure that people who are sick are staying home, out of the transit system and away from work,” said MTA Chief Safety Officer Patrick Warren. “Our “temperature brigade” helps reduce risk for everyone, and they are among the thousands of behind-the-scenes heroes at the MTA working hard to fight this formidable pandemic. Our frontline employees are incredible, and we thank them for their courage and commitment to public service.”

The MTA Temperature Brigade is drawn from across the MTA, including NYC Transit safety and security personnel, LIRR fire marshals and Metro-North fire brigade, as well as 60 contract workers, all medically trained, deployed 24/7 to locations covering all MTA agencies. The Brigade, which is redeployed regularly based on needs, is currently at 22 critical locations.

Temperature Brigade members check all employees entering a work location using thermal scan thermometers on foreheads.Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher is sent home and instructed to seek medical guidance and report back to the MTA.

The Brigade started at seven sites last month and has ramped up with more than 2,000 employees a day now being tested. The fever rate being found by the Brigade is extremely low – approximately 1 out of every 1,000 employees checked.

-via Press Release