Does ultraviolet (UV) light kill the Covid-19 virus?

Team Udayavani, May 24, 2020, 10:02 AM IST

UV light is the latest popular tool in the ongoing race to find ways to prevent oneself from catching Covid-19.

It is said that a few Hospitals have been using it for years to cut down on the spread of drug-resistant superbugs and to disinfect surgical suites

Many consumer devices also use UV light to disinfect things, such as self-cleaning UV light water bottles and UV-emitting cases that clean your dirty phone.

There are three types of UV light, UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVC light has the most energy of the three types. UVC light has been found to destroy viruses and other microbes on surfaces in hospitals.

However, exposure to UVC light is dangerous for people, it can damage your eyes and skin and also cause cancer.

Scientists are exploring ways to use a specific type of UVC light for devices that could be safe for humans. But existing products are not safe to use on your body.