As the coronavirus spreads, Xenex Disinfection Services has offered to ship out its germ-killing robots free-of-charge. But first, the San Antonio-based company needs assurances that China will respect the intellectual property of American companies that offer to help.
"We have offered humanitarian care. We will ship robots free of charge. We're really waiting for some confirmation from a Chinese governmental entity that they'll respect the intellectual property from these American companies as it happens," CEO Morris Miller told Cheddar.
Xenex's LightStrike machine uses what's called a xenon arc lamp to put out a broad spectrum ultraviolet light that busts up germs upon contact. More than 450 hospitals use the technology to disinfect rooms and other surfaces likely to pick up infectious pathogens, according to Miller.
"It covers the entire germicidal spectrum and basically deactivates the pathogens that it hits within the hospital environment," Miller said.
The light-emitting robots are used to prevent even commonplace health issues such as urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections, but the spread of the novel coronavirus has increased interest.
"Last week a lot of hospitals were tapping their emergency preparedness funds to bring in robots as a preventative measure to make sure that if coronavirus hit our shores, they would be ready to do it," Miller said.
The device has been tested against the similar Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and showed a reduction in pathogens after a five-minute disinfection cycle. Xenex recommends using the device in close proximity to the emergency department for maximum effect.
"We have tested it against the MERS virus — very effective, easy enough for us to kill in approximately 90 seconds to two and half minutes," he said. "Coronavirus would be very similar."
He added that hospital staff could be trained within 15 minutes to use the device, which looks a bit like a small lamp that flashes like a strobe light.
The CDC estimates that one in 31 hospital patients per day contracts a healthcare-associated infection.
The agency has also confirmed a total of 12 coronavirus cases within the U.S. The death toll has reached 908 people out of 40,171 infections globally.
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
Tesla, the car company run by Elon Musk, reported Wednesday that it sold more vehicles in the past three months after boycotts hit hard earlier this year, but profits still fell sharply. Third-quarter earnings fell to $1.4 billion, from $2.2 billion a year earlier. Excluding charges, per share profit of 50 cents came in below analysts' estimate. Tesla shares fell 3.5% in after-hours trading. Musk said the company's robotaxi service, which is available in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, will roll out to as many as 10 other metro areas by the end of the year.
Starbucks’ AI barista aims to speed service and improve experience. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune Business Editor, explains its impact on workers and customers.
