Bhubaneswar:In an effort to ensure the safety of health workers in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, state-run Industrial Training Institute (ITI), Cuttack has developed a portable walk-in kiosk for collecting samples from suspected coronavirus-infected persons, an official said on Thursday.
Inspired by a similar initiative taken by medical staff in South Korea, a dedicated team of 4 skilled trainers of the institute started working on the project and developed the mobile sample collection unit, its principal Hrushikesh Mohanty said.
This will help health workers maintain social distancing norms while collecting samples from people, he said.
The walk-in sample collection kiosk is a mobile cubicle with a sealed glass on its front side that protects the health personnel from getting infected with the virus while collecting the samples, he said.
"Gloves are fitted with the front side of the kiosk, through which a health worker standing inside the cubicle can collect samples.
"The entire structure is supported with wheels at the base for its mobility and has internal electrical fittings. Swabs can be collected without direct exposure and contact," Mohanty said.
The gloves can be sanitised from outside after collection of swabs, he said.