From the moment you press stop on your early morning alarm, to connecting your trusted device to its charger before bed, phones are a permanent accessory, practically stuck with us all day. The surfaces where we place them, the frequency of the times we handle them, coupled with how easy it is to overlook our phones make them a high- risk infection gadget.
As the world continues to observe heightened levels of hygiene due to the coronavirus pandemic and turning to regular hand- washing and use of sanitizers, many have seen the hidden threat posed by mobile phones during these risky times.
Sales of a device-cleaning machine called PhoneSoap have soared as the novel virus continues to spread worldwide. The device reportedly bathes phones in UV light, killing germs. According to co- founder Dan Barnes, the sales of the product this month is 20 times more than in the same period last year.
The cleaning tool uses UV-C light to damage bacteria and viruses so that they cannot replicate. The product has reportedly been tested and found to be effective in killing bacteria. However, the model of the product is under question, as it has not yet been proven to combat COVID-19.
“Eliminating covid-19 would likely require a much larger UV-C dose than what commercially available devices like PhoneSoap emit, based on the data scientists have on other coronaviruses such as SARS,” said Mia Lieberman, a clinical veterinarian at Harvard medical school.
“I don’t think consumers should rely on a UV device that’s commercially available to eradicate coronavirus on their phone,” Lieberman said. “I don’t think we have the data to know how much it helps.” Said Lieberman, however noting that to attain that much UV-C light intensity, users would have to leave their phones in the tool for over two hours.
The medic recommended that people opt for products or wipes that are at least 60% alcohol in line with guidelines being provided by the centers for disease control and prevention.
According to the World Health Organization, the best way for a person to protect himself and his loved ones from the novel virus is by thoroughly and regularly washing hands with an alcohol- based hand rub or with soap and water, maintaining social distancing by staying at least one meter away from symptomatic people and avoiding touching one’s face.
Further, the WHO in its website states that wearing rubber gloves while out in public will not aid in protection against the ailment, putting more emphasis on washing one’s bare hands.
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