The Universal Hip Hop Museum in New York is located at the Bronx Terminal Market. The [R]Evolution of Hip Hop’s newest experience celebrates Hip Hop's emergence from the park jams and the projects to nightclubs, national concert tours, TV and motion pictures circa 1980 to 1985. Its innovative music, art, dance and fashion reflects what first permeated the city streets in the Bronx, Harlem, Brooklyn and Queens in the 1970s before it made its way Downtown in the 1980s.

The Universal Hip Hop Museum has been planning to safely reopen its doors to the public this month. In alignment with New York City reopening guidelines, the safety and wellbeing of all visitors are top priority for the facility.

To help aid in COVID-19 response, Soter Technologies donated one of its SymptomSense rapid walk-through scanners to the museum. The system determines an individual’s blood oxygen level, body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate. These vital signs are the same as those immediately taken at emergency rooms and can help identify if a person has symptoms that correlate with those of COVID-19 or other illnesses. The human vital sign scanner system has been installed at the [R]Evolution of Hip Hop exhibit at the museum. 

The scanners look similar to metal detectors used at security checkpoints at airports, professional sporting events and government buildings. Additional measures will also be taken at the museum to further safeguard the staff and guests, including practicing social distancing and facial mask requirements.

“Our community has been hit hard over the past few months and it is our responsibility to do all we can to reopen safely and allow our visitors to be safe and comfortable learning about and enjoying the richness that is Hip Hop culture through this interactive experience," said Rocky Bucano, Executive Director of the Universal Hip Hop Museum. “The installation of SymptomSense gives our patrons and staff a level of comfort knowing that they will be better protected from risks related to exposure to anyone who may have an illness or symptoms related to COVID-19.”