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UV-C light helps curb the spread of COVID-19
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Doc. Signify
T
he COVID-19 pandemic, which is wreaking havoc on economic activity nationwide, has yet to show signs of subsiding. Many business sectors, from airlines and hotels to retail and food and beverage industries, have taken a hard hit.
According to data from the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), as many as 3.7 million individuals have lost their jobs this year. The total number of unemployed people will hit around 10 million by the end of the year.
Despite preventive measures such as the government’s implementation of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB), which include social distancing, an obligation to wear a mask when going out and washing hands regularly, the number of confirmed cases has continued to go up.
It comes as no surprise, therefore, to learn that government officials, policy makers, CEOs and other heads of organizations, are seeking ways to enable the workforce to continue being productive to help drive the economy in a safer environment amid the pandemic.
This is where UV-C light comes in. Developed by Signify, the leader in UV-C light sources, Philips UV-C lighting products provide a quick, powerful and highly effective means of disinfection.
Although UV-C technology is not new, Signify, which has a proven track record of innovation in UV-C lighting, has seen the potential of the technology to support the fight against the spread of the coronavirus. This has prompted Signify to bring these UV-C products to help protect the people, both in public places and in their homes.
Significant finding
According to Rami Hajjar, president director of Signify Indonesia, the effectiveness of Signify’s UV-C light sources in inactivating the virus that causes COVID-19 has been validated by a study conducted by the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories (NEIDL) at Boston University in the United States.
He explains that since the start of the SARS Cov-2 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Griffiths, associate professor of microbiology at Boston University School of Medicine and his team have been working on developing tools to support scientific advancement in this field.
“During their research they tested inoculated material with different doses of UV-C radiation coming from a Signify light source and assessed the inactivation capacity under virus conditions,” he told The Jakarta Post in a virtual interview.
He went on to say that the team applied a dose of 5mJ/cm2, resulting in a 99 percent reduction of the SARS-Cov-2 virus in a second. “Based on the data, it was determined that a dose of 22mJ/cm2 will result in a reduction of 99.9999 percent in 25 seconds,” he said.
“This finding means a lot to us because now, we definitely can contribute to protecting the community from the COVID-19 pandemic with our range of UV-C lighting solutions that are suitable for various applications in buildings and public places,” he said.
“We hope that our range of disinfection lighting can also help foster a sense of security for the people in their home or workplace, so that they no longer worry excessively and can improve their productivity,” he added.
Disinfection lightings
According to Hajjar, Signify presents a wide range of Philips UV-C lightings that can be used for air disinfection and surface disinfection.
UV-C lights can play an important role in disinfecting public spaces through air disinfection. Signify’s upper-room disinfection system can be used with people in the room, as they are installed at a height which, in combination with shielding and optics, prevents exposure to the UV-C light source, allowing for the disinfection to happen while ensuring that day-to-day business activities can continue underneath the area where the device is active.
“Air in the upper part of the room is constantly disinfected using UV-C irradiation and natural convection of airflow in the room. This makes these perfect for use in work environments such as offices, malls, restaurants, schools, gyms, retail outlets and other high-contact areas,” he said.
“UV-C light can complement the health protocols,” he said.
Signify also provides a range of UV-C fixtures that are ideal for the deep disinfection of surfaces in offices, schools, place of worship, public restrooms, etc.
“They are equipped with sensors and controls to ensure that they only operate when people and animals are not present. Other products include a mobile, freestanding Philips UV-C trolley that can be wheeled into a hotel room or used to disinfect surfaces on public transport such as buses and trains.
For the disinfection of objects, Signify is launching a range of safe and quick-to-use Philips UV-C disinfection chambers. These chambers are used in offices and municipal buildings to disinfect visitor tags, phones, bags, laptops and wallets in a matter of seconds.
In stores they are ideal for disinfecting returned items, glasses or clothes tried on in a changing room. “We also have UV-C tunnels which can be used to disinfect shopping trolleys at grocery stores, or used in hotels to disinfect guests' luggage upon check-in,” he said.
With many offices, companies and factories becoming COVID-19 clusters, installing UV-C applications will help curb the spread of the coronavirus in public spaces and facilities.
Safety
According to Hajjar, Signify makes safety a top priority in its UV-C products, with safety guidelines having been issued by the Global Lighting Association. “For example, our Philips UV-C Disinfection Desk Lamp, which is a portable unit that can be operated just by plugging it into a socket. This product has integrated safety safeguards such as a timer, sound alarm, 3-meter motion-sensor using microwave technology, and 3-meter cable that are designed to protect the user from the dangers of excessive exposure.
“Another safety feature unique to this product is the voice instruction that will start before users turn on the lamp. We also have a range of UV-C lighting for professional use that are suitable for various applications in public spaces, office buildings, schools, mosques, churches, public transportation, etc.,” he said.
How Signify can produce UV-C-based lighting that can effectively inactivate the coronavirus is attributed to its long presence and expertise. It has been at the forefront of UV-C technology for more than 35 years and has a proven track record of innovation in UV-C lighting, which is designed, manufactured and installed in line with the highest standards. “At the specific wavelength of 253.7 nm, our UV-C light source is intended to be used for the disinfection of air, water and/or surfaces by breaking the DNA of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, molds and spores, making them harmless,” he said.
Thus, it would be wise for government officials and CEOs to consider the use of UV-C disinfection lighting. Using UV-C lights can help create a clean and safer environment and accordingly, this will help to keep employees productive and the economy running.
For complete information about a range of Philip UV-C lighting products, click here
