Disinfection robots are frequently seen spraying disinfectant in public places with people, such as train station waiting rooms and exhibition halls. Many promotional videos online also demonstrate the robots' effectiveness in disinfecting in public, claiming they are safe for people.
So, can disinfection robots really disinfect in places with people? This depends on the disinfection method used.
If they use chemical disinfectant sprays, they cannot be used in places with people. Relevant national departments have issued documents explicitly prohibiting the use of chemical disinfectant sprays or other air disinfection methods in public areas. Ultraviolet disinfection methods also cannot be used in public areas, as they could cause harm to people present.
If they use physical methods such as air filtration or adsorption for air disinfection, then they can be used in places with people.
Disinfection robots are helpful tools for disinfection and epidemic prevention; we need to use them correctly.
