(TAN): The Airport Authority of Hong Kong is using advanced disinfection technologies at Hong Kong International Airport to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The latest technologies include full-body disinfection booths, cleaning robots and antimicrobial coating.
The airport authority is running trials of a full-body disinfection channel, CleanTech, in live operations, which can conduct a 40-second disinfection and sanitising procedure on those passing through it following a temperature check. The airport claimed it is the “world’s first airport” to test the technology in live operation.
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The fully enclosed facility comprises an antimicrobial coating that uses photocatalyst and “nano needle” technology to remotely kill any viruses and bacteria found on garments and body.
The person undergoing the procedure is also sprinkled with sanitising spray for immediate disinfection while the booth is kept under negative pressure to prevent cross-contamination between the internal and external environments.
The facility is presently being used on employees involved in public health and quarantine duties for arriving passengers at the airport.
The airport authority is also testing antimicrobial coating designed to destroy all germs and viruses at all passenger facilities including high-touch surfaces such as handles, seats, smart check-in kiosks, check-in counters, baggage trolleys and elevator buttons at the airport.
Hong Kong International Airport will consider using the technology as a long-term measure once the trial is complete in May, according to reports.
The airport has also installed autonomous cleaning robots to disinfect public areas and passenger facilities including toilets, reports said. The Intelligent Sterilization Robot, which comes armed fitted with ultraviolet light steriliser and air steriliser, can reportedly sterilise up to 99.99% of bacteria in just ten minutes.
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“The safety and well-being of airport staff and passengers are always our first priority,” Steven Yiu, Deputy Director of Service Delivery at Airport Authority Hong Kong said.
“Although air traffic has been impacted by the pandemic, the Airport Authority spares no effort in ensuring that the airport is a safe environment for all users. We will continue to look into new measures to enhance our cleaning and disinfection work,” Yiu added.
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