Jharkhand Fights Coronavirus With A Robot That Is Serving Food And Medicines To COVID-19 Infected Patients

New Delhi: Jharkhand government has come up with an innovative way to tackle the Coronavirus crisis. To cut down human interface, the authorities have decided to include a remote-controlled robot which has been named as ‘Co-Bot’ in the isolation facility of Chakradharpur Railway Hospital in the state. The robot is helping deliver food and medicines from one bed to another, without involving health workers to attend to COVID-19 patients. Talking about this new initiative, Aditya Ranjan, Deputy Development Officer, West Singhbum said,

Co-Bot name has been carved out from COVID and Robot. Today, our country is facing a very big crisis. Our enemy is the mighty virus that spreads from one person to another. Knowing such circumstances, we have decided to deploy a robotic device in the isolation facility as a pilot project in our fight against the virus. Depending on its success, we will scale-up the project.

Also Read: The Decision To Lockdown India Was Taken Early And It Was Smart But Testing Needs To Scale Up: Expert On Country’s Fight Against Coronavirus

Further highlighting the features of the robotic device, Mr Ranjan said,

The robot device has a maximum capacity of 30 kg with a range of 300 feet. CO-BOT is basically made of steel having fiber wheels fitted with hospital trolley on its top for carrying medicines and food. In simple language, it is a delivery device that helps in minimising interaction of COVID-19 patients lodged in isolation centres with hospital staff who are at the maximum risk of getting infected with the virus.

Also Read: To Fights Coronavirus, Kerala To Convert Its Houseboats Into COVID-19 Isolation Wards In Alappuzha

The installation cost of co-bot is Rs 25,000 per machine. The machine is run by remote control and the device is fitted with both camera and speaker. Moreover, as a precautionary measure, the device is sanitised every-time it is sent inside the COVID speciality ward.

As of today, Jharkhand has reported 28 cases of coronavirus, of which, 2 people have been declared dead, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Whereas, in India, more than 12,000 cases have been reported for COVID-19 and 414 people have succumbed to the deadly infection.

Also Read: The Decision To Lockdown India Was Taken Early And It Was Smart But Testing Needs To Scale Up: Expert On Country’s Fight Against Coronavirus