Richland County distributing noncontact thermometers

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Richland County’s Economic Development Office has begun distributing noncontact infrared thermometers to local, private-sector businesses.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency allocated devices to the S.C. Emergency Management Division, which provided the thermometers to each county’s economic development office on a per capita basis, according to a news release.

The Richland County office said it received 227 thermometers on June 4 and expects to receive more. The office has received about 50 requests from qualifying county businesses with frequent person-to-person contact and began delivering the devices this week.

The thermometers provide businesses a no-contact way to check employees’ temperatures as businesses begin to reopen following a March shutdown because of COVID-19 health concerns.  

“By distributing these thermometers, Economic Development is helping our local businesses keep their employees healthy and safe from the spread of COVID-19, which will, in turn, help limit spreading throughout the rest of the community,” County Council Chair Paul Livingston said in the release. “I am pleased to see businesses eager to take precautions that will create a safer working environment in response to the coronavirus pandemic.”

Most requests have come from manufacturers, but sectors such as distribution, agriculture, information technology, insurance and call centers have also requested the thermometers, according to the release.

“We really appreciate Richland County for providing these infrared no-touch thermometers,” said McEntire Produce CEO Carter McEntire. “These tools help us protect our team members, their families and our livelihoods.”