Coronavirus: Dubai uses UV robots to kill germs in hospitals and clinics

The city's health authority has bought eight devices to begin automated cleaning

UV technology can be used to kill a range of germs including from coronavirus. Courtesy: Dubai Health Authority

Dubai's health authority has introduced eight robots that use ultraviolet light to kill germs in medical facilities.

The devices can complete an "exhaustive sterilisation" of a room in 15 minutes.

Dubai Health Authority said the devices are to be used as more hospitals return to full non-Covid operations.

Light from UV lamps shine at 360 degrees and the robot covers each room several times before moving on.

UV light has been shown to kill coronavirus on surfaces and is used by other countries to clean medical face masks.

Kholoud Al Ali, project manager at DHA, said the robots can be used in offices, hospital rooms and wards, surgery rooms and non-medical facilities including warehouses and homes.