The Department of Health (DOH) has issued a warning against the use of ultraviolet (UV) light for disinfection after some members of the media who attended the demonstration of an UV light disinfection robot in Baguio City experienced eye irritation.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire cautioned that the said process may produce dangerous effects on the body.
“Ito ay maaaring maka-apekto sa ating mga mata, and can even, doon sa severe na exposure, maaaring masira iyong cornea ng mata ng isang tao (It may affect the eyes, and may damage the cornea under severe exposure),” Vergeire said.
“Pangalawa, maaaring makasunog din ng balat. Pangatlo, mayroon din siyang effect sa respiratory system (Second, it can burn the skin. Third, it has an effect on the respiratory system),” Vergeire added.
The DOH emphasized that there is no sufficient evidence yet to prove the effectiveness of such kind of disinfection to kill SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Robotic Activations Chief of Business Development Camille Anton has admitted their lapse thinking that they have “exercised enough precautions when the press asked to switch the robot on.”
“We have reached out, apologized and offered assistance to them, and are hopeful that they will recover quickly,” Anton added. – Report from Mark Fetalco
