There appears to be an interesting development in the fight against Covid-19 (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiegold/2020/08/25/columbia-university-far-uvc-light-study-shows-promise-as-wellness-design-based-covid-killer/#575a3eb14e83). Physicist Dr David Brenner of Cornell University has been using Far UVC to kill drug-resistant bacteria (so-called 'superbugs'). This wavelength does not penetrate human skin, so it can be safely used in rooms occupied by people. The Far UVC radiation is produced by a device called an excimer light, which can be produced as a stand-alone or combined with regular lighting (there are plans to combine them with LEDs but these are not yet sufficiently efficient). In June, Brenner reportedly found that this wavelength greatly reduced the levels of airborne coronavirus in indoor environments occupied by people. He suggests that fitting excimers to classrooms and lecture theatres would greatly reduce the transmission of viruses. They could also be used in living spaces such as dormitories. This could be a novel way of dealing with a range of bacterial and viral infections (so long as no long term side-effects are observed).
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