As the spread of coronavirus infections is rapidly increasing, people are being prompted to look for innovative solutions to contain it. Earlier, students in Noida placed toothpicks near the elevator panel so that building residents didn’t have to press the buttons with their fingers.
According to Hindustan Times, Tiruppur District Collector K. Vijayakarthikeyan has inaugurated a ‘disinfection tunnel’ installed at the entrance of Uzhavar Santhai (farmer’s market) in Thennampalayam, Tamil Nadu.
Anyone entering the market (vendors or customers) has to wash their hands and then walk through the tunnel with their arms raised. Inside, the nozzles spray disinfectant potent enough to kill the virus.
We have set up a first of it's kind #disinfection tunnel in Thennampalayam market in #Tiruppur where people will have to walk through the disinfection tunnel for 3-5secs after handwash,before entering the market ! Thanks to #YI #CII #TiruppurCoronaFighters for support ! pic.twitter.com/D0hWWqjBnl
— Vijayakarthikeyan K (@Vijaykarthikeyn) April 1, 2020
The Hindu reports that it has a capacity to store 1,000 liters of disinfectant which lasts 16 hours and has to be refilled once a day. The total cost of this invention is Rs.90,000. Deccan Herald quoted the Collector saying,
“The tunnel adds value to our efforts to prevent further outspread of COVID-19. The solution used to spray is 1 percent of sodium hypochlorite in 1 ppm (parts per million) and it has been tested and reviewed by a team of doctors.”
— Vijayakarthikeyan K (@Vijaykarthikeyn) April 1, 2020
Twitter lauded the initiative and urged everyone stepping out to buy essentials to practice social distancing.
Brilliant and Very Innovative idea sir. Plz implement this in all the markets of Tamilnadu as early as possible .
— Gaurav narayanan (@gauravnarayanan) April 1, 2020
Great work sir
— Gobinath (@Gobinat97516950) April 1, 2020
Indeed a great idea
— anil rajbhar (@anilrajbhar2) April 1, 2020
Excellent work, kudos to the entire team
— Sakthivel Mani (@sakthi_m86) April 1, 2020
Very well done. Hats off to you sir 👏
— அருண்பிரசாத் (@arunbabajap) April 1, 2020
Considering the fact that the effects of the disinfectant last an hour, do you think the tunnel justifies its cost in preventing community transmission?