As many businesses across New Jersey begin to reopen, many are increasing safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In many cases, this includes taking the temperatures of staff and patrons.

Paradise Total Spa and Nails in Morris Plains has been using an infrared forehead thermometer.

“If we do see anybody with 100.4 temperatures, which is what the state mandates, we would tell them we cannot service them,” says manager Katherine Kim.

Dr. Deena Adimoolam, an endocrinologist at Mount Sinai in New York City, says that for adults, forehead temperature is one of the best ways to indicate a fever.

“Forehead thermometers are a quick and easy way to gauge one’s temperature and they’re pretty accurate,” she says.

Adimoolam says it’s important to follow manufacturer guidelines on distance from the forehead when using it, adding that temperature is one of several ways to assess if a person has the virus.

“Don’t strictly rely on temperature,” she says. “Most places like hospitals aren’t strictly relying on temperatures,” she says.

She says that while certain people may have underlying conditions causing their average body temperature to be higher than normal - that temperature rarely reaches over 100 degrees Fahrenheit without some type of infection.

She says that it is important to check if a person is symptomatic and assess if they have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19.