Netcare’s ‘germ-destroying robots’ to help wage war on coronavirus

South African health care company, Netcare announced on Tuesday it has deployed highly effective germ-destroying robots at its healthcare facilities, as one of the measures to prevent the spread of infections.

Robots ‘bolster disinfection measures’

“Netcare has for long placed an emphasis on infection prevention within its health care facilities as a result of the ongoing prevalence of highly infectious viruses such as the coronaviruses, and so-called ‘superbugs,” Netcare chief executive Richard Friedland said.

“As a result, we started to acquire super-effective germ-destroying robots late in 2017, to bolster our existing comprehensive disinfection measures.” 

Friedland said the spread of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in South Africa, has seen a surge of public interest on preventive measures of health care providers in containing infections, more specifically Covid-19, at their facilities, and in the latest technologies for prevention and control in hospitals.

The Yanex Pulsed-Xenon UV robots deployed in Netcare hospitals use high doses of UV light to destroy viruses, bacteria and fungal spores, and they disinfect hospital wards, operating theatres and other spaces within minutes.

Caseload mounts

South Africa’s health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced on Tuesday that the number of infections had increased by 152 to 554 confirmed cases. 

On Monday, just hours before President Cyril Ramaphose announced a 21-day lockdown, the country recorded its first massive increase in the number of Covid-19 cases from 274 on Sunday to 402 on Monday. 

Mkhize said health officials were working around the clock to track cases of the virus and to trace contacts.