Picture of Iris machines and equipment in an operation room. UV light disinfecting robot will help destroy 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria.

JACKSON COUNTY HOSPITAL DISTRICT WELCOMES "IRIS"

UV light disinfecting robot will help destroy 99.9 percent of viruses and bacteria

Today, the Jackson County Hospital District announced that it is welcoming Iris, a new ultraviolet light robot that will aid in disinfecting its facilities. Proper disinfecting of its facilities has always been paramount to the administration of JCHD, but like thousands of hospitals across the country, that has been a tall task as we continue to battle a global pandemic.

This new technology will destroy 99.9 percent of bacteria and viruses including COVID-19, Norovirus, MRSA and more. Iris effectively cleans both air and surface contamination with Ultraviolet C (UVC) light. The robot uses a highly germicidal 253.7 nanometer bandwidth which causes photochemical damage to both cellular DNA and virus RNA. The damage at the molecular level prevents replication and therefore the capability of infection. In essence, the UVC light "deactivates" the cell.

"It is more important now than it has ever been - for the safety of both our patients and our medical teams - to ensure that our facilities are sterile," said JCHD CEO Lance Smiga. "During this pandemic, many local residents have been reluctant to obtain essential healthcare services out of fear of contracting COVID-19. We understand that entirely and have continued to provide clean and safe environments for treatment. That being said, we felt that it was important to do everything in our power to ensure the safety of our patients and our staff. So, we are introducing Iris as a sentry to keep everyone safe."