A man tries to use a mobile disinfection chamber at a launching ceremony held in HCM City on March 18. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ

HCM CITY — The HCM City University of Technology in collaboration with the Centre of Science and Technology Development for Youth successfully created and officially launched a mobile disinfection chamber serving people in COVID-19-affected areas on Wednesday (March 18).

The creation of the chamber aims to prevent and limit the spread of the infectious diseases, especially in the current situation of COVID-19 pandemic.

It is expected to be installed in areas at high risk of COVID-19 infections such as isolation areas containing people infected with COVID-19, as well as at hospitals, supermarkets, railway and bus stations, airports, offices, schools, and other crowded areas.

Initially, three mobile disinfection chambers will be set up at the HCM City Youth Cultural House in District 1, HCM City Traditional Medicine Institute in Phú Nhuận District, and the Saigon Union of Trading Co-operatives (Saigon Co.op) in District 1.

Assoc Prof Dr Nguyễn Tấn Tiến of the HCM City University of Technology under the Việt Nam National University-HCM City said the chamber is designed as a module so it can be easily installed, uninstalled and transported.

The chamber’s main component is a 360-degree fog mist sprayer using anolyte solution which is a powerful disinfectant against bacteria and viruses.

It automatically activates the disinfection spraying process once a person steps in.

“It only takes 30 seconds to complete a round of disinfection in each chamber so it does not take us much time to use,” Tiến said.

It is estimated that each chamber can disinfect up to 1,000 people per day.

A chamber costs about VNĐ20 million (US$860). Around 100 chambers could be manufactured a week to meet the needs in the city and southern provinces.

Đoàn Kim Thành, director of the Centre of Science and Technology Development for Youth under the HCM City unit-Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union, said the launch of the mobile disinfection chamber is one of a number of meaningful social activities in response to the Month of Youth this March.

“It creates opportunities for young intellectuals in the city to apply their knowledge in an active manner to serve the community,” he said.

It also contributes to the building and developing of the city in the international integration process, especially in the current situation of the pandemic, he said.

More funds

The HCM City Department of Health needs more facilities, drugs, chemicals and other medical materials for COVID-19 prevention and control.

It is waiting for the People’s Council to approve these needs.  

Specifically, the department needs more than VNĐ97.7 billion ($4.2 million) to serve 1,000 people who are in isolation at the city’s quarantine areas.

It also suggests that the city should add more than VNĐ119.2 billion ($5.1 million) for COVID-19 prevention and control among the community in all 24 districts, the International Health Quarantine Centre and others.

For the subsidy of meals, the department suggests VNĐ90,000 ($4) per day per person who is in isolation and who is being treated in quarantine areas and hospitals in the city.

These quarantine areas are providing subsidies ranging from VNĐ90,000 to VNĐ150,000 ($6.5).

As of Wednesday (March 18), the city had nine hotels with 641 rooms and 200 beds used as quarantine areas for people suspected of having COVID-19.

The city Department of Tourism will continue encouraging more hotels to become quarantine areas to help reduce overcrowding in the city’s other quarantine areas.

All people suspected of having COVID-19 staying at these hotels will have to pay fees.

The city does not charge for treatment of foreigners at quarantine areas. Many of them want to self-isolate at hotels. — VNS