On August 3, 2020, the European Union handed over two stationary thermal fever screening systems worth around UAH 1,000,000 to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) working on the front line of pandemic, processing travels to and from Ukraine. The equipment supplied through the EU-funded project “EU Support to Strengthening Integrated Border Management in Ukraine (EU4IBM)” is the second part of the COVID-19 related support provided to the project beneficiaries.
The cameras provided to the SBGS will be installed at Boryspil airport to help border guards in detecting passengers with fever-like symptoms ensuring minimal disruption in operations and decreasing the risk of cross-contamination, as they provide the possibility for instant contactless measurement of the travellers’ temperature at the distance.
“Supporting our partners in Ukraine, especially during the pandemic situation, is a priority for the EU. The thermal screening systems delivered to the State Border Guard Service will help ensure continuous thermal screening of travellers to and from Ukraine in such a way safeguarding the tourists, private travellers, those traveling in business and trade,” said Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Ambassador Matti Maasikas.
Earlier, the EU also delivered personal protective equipment, as well as non-contact infrared thermometers to the State Border Guard Service and the State Customs Service of Ukraine to ensure safe and continuous operations of both services while working with people and goods crossing the Ukrainian border.
“Ukraine, like the entire world, was not ready for an outbreak of such a scale and modern technical solutions could be of help to reduce further spread of the disease. Border guards, working daily with lots of people are at particular risk of being infected. While personal protective means delivered earlier help protect themselves, continuous and undisrupted thermal screening also prevents the border guards from contamination and contributes to minimizing the further dissemination of the virus,” said EU4IBM Team Leader Arunas Adomenas.
Although the adaptive quarantine is still in place, Ukraine gradually opens its borders. In light of the resumption of the regular flights and ongoing vacation season, special measures controlling the travellers’ temperature are of extreme need and importance.
