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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 in school. Laughing, sneezing, or even breathing can spread COVID-19 to fellow students or staff members 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: •Restaurants •School Cafeterias •Military and Prison Dining Areas •Events (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 schools 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 schools 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 schools, see: Do schools spread COVID? It may depend on how bad things already are around them
“Opening school buildings doesn’t increase the spread of COVID-19 in places where cases or hospitalizations from the virus are rare, according to two new studies.
Reopening schools in areas with higher caseloads, though, does spread the virus, one found, while the other couldn’t rule out that possibility. It remains unclear exactly at what point school reopening becomes more risky.
The papers are the most rigorous efforts yet to understand the link between schools and COVID spread in the U.S. It’s research that could guide school officials and health officials grappling with whether to reopen or keep open school buildings. But there aren’t simple answers for places with higher numbers, at a moment when some counties are seeing COVID cases peak.
‘It appears that, when hospitalizations rates are low, it is safe to reopen schools in person,’ said Douglas Harris, a professor at Tulane University who co-authored one of the studies, which examined national data. ‘This is important given the side effects of closure for students, such as limiting access to essential services, social isolation, and learning loss.’
At the same time, his co-author Engy Zieden warned that these conclusions don’t apply everywhere. ‘Given the recent spike in hospitalizations in recent months, policymakers should be cautious,’ she said. ‘It may not be safe to reopen schools where the virus is already widespread.’”
