Tabletop Disinfection for COVID-19 in Nursing Homes

GREENANDSAVE Staff

Posted on Wednesday 6th January 2021
Tabletop Disinfection for COVID-19 in Nursing Homes

 

Dining typically involves opening your mouth, unless you need to eat from a straw, which is an added problem beyond COVID-19. It’s hard to wear a mask and social distance for those who live in nursing homes. Laughing, sneezing, or even breathing can spread COVID-19 to fellow nursing home residents at a table or adjacent tables. This is particularly the case with people that are asymptomatic.  This makes “dining” an activity that warrants ACUTE disinfection. 

Purge Virus’ disinfection device solution was initially developed for countertops and wall mounting, both of which are typically near wall outlets. This tabletop disinfection solution incorporates a rechargeable battery. 

Dining impact of COVID-19:

According to the CDC Report on September 11, 2020, “Adults with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results were approximately twice as likely to have reported dining at a restaurant than were those with negative SARS-CoV-2 test results.” Full Report

The New York Times reported on April 20, 2020, “In January, at a restaurant in Guangzhou, China, one diner infected with the novel coronavirus but not yet feeling sick appeared to have spread the disease to nine other people. One of the restaurant’s air-conditioners apparently blew the virus particles around the dining room.” Full Article

Areas of Focus:RestaurantsSchool CafeteriasMilitary and Prison Dining AreasEvents (Weddings, Banquets, Conferences)

SOLUTION: Portable tabletop disinfection that integrates ultraviolet (UVC) light with photoplasma to purge COVID-19 in seconds not minutes. It is less than 12” across and less than 9” tall, so it does not block conversations across tables.  To learn more, see the third-party Test Report information from December 2020, the Disinfection Device Video, and the Specification Sheet.

If you do not have a battery for the table, we have done the research and found that GOAL ZERO has a rechargeable one that works well.  Order the battery here.

If you would like to put a “top” across a pair of the devices for tables that seat more than 4 people, we have found that home improvement stores (e.g. Home Depot) and craft supply stores (e.g. Michael’s) have many great choices that range from 12″ x 12″ to larger sizes in wood, tile, stone, plexiglass, etc.

For facilities with an average air circulation of 4 air changes per hour (AHC), the PR30 devices cover up to 415 square feet. This is particularly relevant for nursing homes that may have about 1,600 sq ft of dining areas. 4 devices will disinfect the air across the tables that are near the placement of the device.

Tabletop Disinfection PATENT: Our patent submission with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on October 15, 2020 is still pending and under development to integrate the battery with the most appropriate disinfection technology. This combination of existing technology and the battery is a bridge to future tabletop disinfection devices. As battery technology improves, we also hope to reduce the overall size of the combined solution. Given that COVID-19 persists, we recommend using the combination during the pandemic.

The cost of each disinfection device is $450 and the battery is $200 for a total of $650 per table. If you choose the dual disinfection, then the total technology cost increases to $1,100 per table. There are rechargeable batteries on the market other than the one referenced here, but be sure to check the wattage capacity and amperage to ensure adequate power and longevity between nightly charging.

For more information on COVID-19 in nursing homes, see: Maine's assisted living facilities begin COVID-19 vaccinations

“The 6,000 residents of Maine’s nursing homes are among the first scheduled to receive a coronavirus vaccine.

Behind them are people who live in assisted living facilities, which is a much larger group. While there are 93 nursing homes in Maine, there are 230 licensed assisted living facilities.

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are partnering with pharmacy chains to vaccinate residents and staff members.

Residents of 75 State Street, an assisted living facility in Portland, were vaccinated on Monday.

‘I want to protect others. We need to all get it,’ resident Barry Smith said.

Officials with the facility said they expected all of its 140 residents to get the Moderna vaccine. Smith, 83, said he sees it as a turning point in the pandemic.

‘All the people that come into Maine this summer for our big tourist season will hopefully be protected because they have had the vaccination wherever they may be living now,’ Smith said.

‘We have been living in this altered universe for about 10 months now, and so I can't tell you how happy I am that this day is here. I haven't slept in three days since we've been planning this,’ 75 State Street Senior Director of Health Services Jessica Duffy said.”

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