India's Southern Naval Command designs ultraviolet disinfection unit to contain COVID-19

MUMBAI - India's Southern Naval Command (SNC) has designed and fabricated an Ultra Violet Disinfection Unit to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Kochi, 548 km southwest of Bengaluru, the government's Press Information Bureau said late Sunday.

The unit built on the concept paper published by Mumbai-based Indian Institute of Technology and produced by Naval Ship Repair Yard in Kochi is best suited for disinfecting items on which sanitizing gels and liquids cannot be applied, the Press Information Bureau said in a statement.

The Indian Institute of Technology is an autonomous public technical and research university located across 23 locations of the country including Mumbai.

Built at a cost of $65, the unit comprises a metallic container, two ultraviolet (UV) lamps one each on opposite side, with aluminum foil pasted on its internal surfaces to facilitate UV radiation to reach every corner of the chamber, the statement said.

The efficacy of the portable equipment validated by medical experts of the Naval Command is considered ideal for disinfecting small objects like currency notes, all kinds of cards, wallets, diary, pens, mobile phones, keys, uniform accessories like beret and surgical instruments.

Last week, 21 sailors of India's Western Naval Command located on a shore-based logistics and support establishment in Mumbai tested positive for COVID-19.

As per the latest official update, India has reported 13,295 active cases of COVID-19 with 519 deaths so far.