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According to an article in Medscape, more than 100 healthcare workers who had cared for patients with COVID-19 have died in the line of duty. How can we help those who are sick and at the same time, protect those who serve them?
With the recent spread of the COVID-19 virus, one thing has become clear - hospitals across the globe are struggling to keep up with the influx of newly infected patients. Healthcare services are pushed to its very limits, and our medical professionals are sent to the frontlines to fight a war against the global pandemic often with limited supplies and equipment.
According to an article in Medscape, more than 100 healthcare workers who had cared for patients with COVID-19 have died in the line of duty. How can we help those who are sick and at the same time, protect those who serve them?
Aggressive distancing is required in order to keep the virus at bay. As such, it seems reasonable to suggest that robots could potentially be the tool we need to combat COVID-19.
Robots have been deployed for many purposes ranging from disinfection, food delivery and at manufacturing factories. With the use of these intelligent navigation in high-risk situations, this could be used as a preventive measure against the spread of the virus between patient and health workers.
In a report by ScienceDaily, researchers believe that “the deployment of social robots can present unique opportunities for continued social interactions and adherence to treatment regimes without fear of spreading more disease.”
COVID-19 has therefore become the catalyst for continued and sustainable research in robotics. As such, not only could it have the potential to radically change the way the healthcare industry operates - it is also a nod towards businesses moving away from operating in a physical space towards a virtual one.