Many industries have turned to disinfection robots to automate the cleaning of public spaces during the COVID-19 crisis, a trend that will likely not disappear once the pandemic ends, reports The Washington Post.
While hospitals have been using ultraviolet light disinfection robots for years, a growing number of malls, airports and hotels are also turning to the technology to improve their cleaning processes. Many analysts and technology firms said they think these robots have gained a permanent foothold in the cleaning and sanitation industry and predict their popularity will continue to grow, according to the Post.
"I do believe there has likely been a slight paradigm shift in how people think about hygiene, as well as how corporations and governments approach sanitation-related issues," Tim Mulrooney, a commercial services equities analyst for the investment bank William Blair, told the publication.
While the CDC on April 5 acknowledged that COVID-19 is predominantly spread through airborne transmission, the pandemic has elevated Americans' focus on cleanliness, driving demand for the robots, analysts say.