SCOTTSDALE, AZ ( 3TV/CBS 5 ) - As the United States continues to try and prevent anymore coronavirus cases, Honor Health hospitals in the valley have a futuristic way of killing that virus nearly 100% of the time.
It’s all because of a zapping robot. Meet Sadie. She’s one of 32 germ-zapping robots Honor Health hospitals now have to clean patient rooms and the ICU with UV light. “Gets rid of the residual viruses and bacteria and spores,” said infectious disease officer Laura Schroder.
The robots are so powerful that no one can be in the room during the four-minute cycle, with a caution sign outside the door. But now, Schroder said, the robots can be key to battling the novel coronavirus. “A study out of Africa that they did found that it could reduce the germs leftover in the room by well over 99%,” Schroder said.
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That new discovery made John Jorgensen and his wife proud. “It makes me feel even more strongly about our investment in the robot,” he said. Jorgensen and his wife donated two of the $125,000 robots to the hospitals, and for them, it’s personal. “Sadie was one of our special standard poodles that passed away,” he said. And the other they donated is named Tizzie, after their other rescue dog.
They’re already considering donating a third this year, after seeing how effective these robots are in zapping germs, especially with its advancements with coronavirus. “Honor Health is ready to take care of patients that have been exposed to the coronavirus,” said Schroder.
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